Singapore Considers Legal Kidney Trading

Controversial Idea Would Allow Payments For Donations From Third Parties

(AP)  Singapore is considering legalizing kidney trading to help meet demand for kidney transplants, the city-state's health minister said Monday.

The Health Ministry will examine the feasibility of providing payments to unrelated donors to augment the supply of kidneys, Khaw Boon Wan said in Parliament, acknowledging that the suggestion has stirred controversy.

"We should not reject any idea just because it is radical or controversial," Khaw said. "We may be able to find an acceptable way to allow a meaningful compensation for some living, unrelated kidney donors, without breaching ethical principles or hurting the sensitivities of others."

Khaw said the ministry would review possible changes to current legislation to allow payments for donations from third parties such as those from the charity and religious sectors. Under the proposal, which would need to be approved by Parliament to become law, patients would also get help in finding donors.

"There are desperate patients out there wishing to live and desperately poor people willing to exchange a kidney for a hopefully improved life," he said.

Khaw also said the Health Ministry would push to amend existing laws on organ transplants to remove an age limit on deceased donors, currently set at 60 years, because "the suitability of the organ depends on its condition rather than the age of the donor."

The two initiatives should raise Singapore's sufficiency in kidney transplants from 50 percent to 70 percent, the minister said. He said about 1,000 new cases of kidney failure are diagnosed every year, with nearly 40 percent unable to survive the first year.

Khaw's comments follow the cases of two Indonesian men who were jailed and fined by a Singapore court earlier this month after being convicted of agreeing to sell their kidneys to two patients in the city-state.

Selling or buying organs or blood is illegal in Singapore and carries a penalty of up to 12 months' jail, or a fine of up to $7,405 or both.

[minnick8-2009]

Maybe the practice could be expanded to sell any organ either by oneself. Or, if a family is willing to sacrifice one of its members, they could sell off a heart or any other vital organ to up-grade the condition of the whole.

[legacyabq]

what is so radical and contorversial about it? When are we going to stop allowing governments to preach and moralize to us about what we can do with our own bodies?? If YOU find it immoral to sell your own kidney, hey that''s great. But if *I* don''t, well, it''s MY kidney!! Authoritarian, moralizing, pushy governments need to back off and leave people alone. If you are not harming someone else''s rights, then you should be free to do whatever the HELL you want to your own body! It''s ironic that this is in Singapore, considering how draconian there justice system is. They must not be very Christian, as that seems to be the driving force behind the West''s freedom-crushing legal ideology..

[legacyabq]

and by the way, assuming someone will say "but it''s not fair, kidneys will get so expensive, only the rich can afford them" well, hey, we can still have the donation system in place. And BESIDES, in most parts of the world, particularly places like Africa, medicine is so expensive only the rich can afford it. It''s the same thing. The difference is that multi-national corporations PROFIT from medicine, so this somehow makes it OK.. ?!?!?! But not kidneys, oh no, that would be IMMORAL. Give me a break.

[newsjunky5]

If there still aren''t enough kidneys, they could put the financial squeeze on some folks. Wouldn''t you give up a kidney to feed your starving children? Or keep your daughter out of prostitution?
This is an inhuman approach to solving the donor shortage.

[minnick8-2009]

If there still aren''''t enough kidneys. . . Wouldn''''t you give up a kidney to feed your starving children? Or keep your daughter out of prostitution?

Posted by newsjunky5

Here is an idea, since a lot of parents in Asia sell their daughters into prostitution, they could sell one of her kidneys first, and that way double the profits.

[johnstossel]

Now we know what the secret ingredient is in food over there!!!

[ciitzenusa]

DaVicar2, uh, have you ever even been to Singapore? I have. Ever read about it in detail? I have.
You might be shocked to discover that it''s likely cleaner and richer than wherever YOU live. It''s one of the richest countries on earth. Sheesh.

[Syndicate]

Their is a company on the verge of making replacement Kidneys from the patients on tissue. Its called Tengion.

[nssherlock1]

Oh no, another thing to sell on eBay!

[toolmangler-2009]

Sell your spare organs now and go on disability from now on, (THERE AIN''T NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH. ''TAANSTAFL'')

[vnveteran72]

Get people poor enough and keep them there long enough, and they''ll do about anything to survive.
Time to Free the Masses from the Ruling Elite once and for All.

[xxunknown]

I am so sorry that there are people so poor that they would have to sell an organ. I guess I wont feel so bad about being late with my car payment this month.

[ddaryl1]

Yep I agree.. all this does is further exploit the poor.

Then you will see wealthy people from other countries flocking to Singapore organs.

We need better answers, and we need them yesterday

[cfin5]

This exploitation of prisoners stealing their body parts "legally" is why I will not help the lewdness of this practice spread by donating ANY of my organs. Sorry, I used to be somewhat open to the idea till finding out how corrupt someone can be to give you a thumbs up or down in trying to save your life,.....don''t need them "letting me go" to make a few bucks more.

[sociald63]

hey - how much can i sell my pancreas ????

[nothappyatall]

to allow payments for donations "

If money changes hands then it''s NOT a "donation"

[minnick8-2009]

Time to Free the Masses from the Ruling Elite once and for All.

Posted by vnveteran72

How do you plan to do that?

[shenthil-2009]

Hello Madam / Sirs,

I am an Indian & 38 years old. Clean habit and pure vegetarian.

My Blood Group is B+. I am offering my kidney for a price of US $ 250,000
(Two hundred & fifty thousand US Dollars). Only genuine buyers who are able to pay the asking price are requested to contact me.

My kidney would be sold on a first come, first serve basis. I have a pasport,

Incase interested please contact me on my email address [e-mail]
About the price, it is not negotiable. Hope to hear from you.

God Help to Us

Take care. Thank you.

[legacyabq]

um, i''m not sure if you are aware of this, but it is very very ILLEGAL to sell your organs in the united states! Maybe you are making a joke. I don''t know if it should be legal, maybe it shouldn''t, but the point is, it is! You should be careful there sahib!