Is Financial Incentive an Effective Way to Increase the Organ Donation Rate

Good health is indispensable and an important asset to everyone. In present-day society, it is nothing but the truth that the possibility of fostering organ donation by financial incentive is receiving increasing consideration. Therefore, whether the financial incentive is an effective way to increase the organ donation rate has long remained disputable discussion in the society. On the one hand, People who are in favor of the suggestion conceive that financial incentive can attract citizens to donate organs and increase the supply of organs. On the other hand, people who object to the notion take the stance that attracting people to donate organs by financial incentive is unethical. Personally, I agree that financial incentive is not an effective way to increase the organ donation way. In this essay, I will examine both sides of the argument and establish my own stance.

Tradition is one of the major components

In this day and age, a lot of people are devoted to discussing the topic of financial incentive for organ donation. People who objected to the statement expect that financial incentive for organ donation may cause potential traditional dilemmas. After thorough examination, it can be reasonably concluded the policy would do more harm than good. According to a recent survey that conducted by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), it has been discovered that only 31 percent of individuals who are older than 55 years old are in favor of some form of financial incentive. Also, this attitude increase with age. Let's use China as an example. Chinese have a traditional concept that our body should be interred intact and this attitude still remains strong among the elderly. The former vice health minister Huang Jiefu said that China is a Confucian society. It's strongly hierarchical and the family's concerns usually trump those of the individual. Therefore, the Chinese, especially older Chinese, put emphasis on this traditional culture. Although financial incentive can provide benefits to them, it is more important for them to follow these cultures. Also, the Chinese believe that our body is received from our parents and we must not presume to injure our body. Therefore, this traditional concept has become an inability of family that affect the aspiration of donating organ. These Chinese traditional values are deeply ingrained in our society so it is hard to attract people to donate organ by financial incentive. After serious discussion, it can draw that financial incentive for organ donation is ineffective to increase the organ donation rate.

Financial incentive is unethical

Besides, there has been much controversy about whether financial incentive for organ donation is ethical or not. People who disagree with such a policy conceive that financial incentive is unethical and violating human rights. Let's quote a specific example. In 1984, a regulation to allow the removal of organs from prisoners is approved by the Chinese government. Until 2006, the former vice health minister Huang Jiefu admitted that more than 95 percent of the supply of organs are from prisoners. The number of executions has estimated that there are about 6000 to 8000 prisoners were executed yearly. However, it cannot determine that how many of them agree to donate their organs by themselves but not compel by the law or financial benefits. Hence, components of financial incentive for organ donation are convinced that the respect of life will reduce and sanctity of human body will decrease. Some may agree to donate organ because of the attraction of financial incentive but the meaning of organ donation will be lost. If family members can determine whether getting the financial incentive for organ donation for the dead, the human rights of the deceased will be ignored. Also, the reliance on prisoners for organs may ignore the standard safeguards of them. Hence, the financial incentive for organ donation is unethical and it is ineffective to raise the organ donation rate.

Whether financial incentive can attract people to donate organ

Financial incentive for organ donation has become a talk of town that whether it can increase the organ donation rate effectively. Supporters are of the opinion that people will be attracted by the financial incentive so the supply of organ will increase. In accordance with a recent questionnaire that conducted by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) , it has been shown that more than 50 percent of individuals agree with the policy of financial incentive for organ donation. Surprisingly, 68 percent of those under 35 years old are strongly in favor of such policy. It can discover that some traditional concepts are gradually changing. Young people are more willing to accept financial incentive as they put more attention to the advantages that they can get through financial incentive for organ donation. However, organ donation is not a self-determination. Young people still need to consider the opinion of their family members. Young people should discuss with family members before making the decision. If there are family members who are elderly that has strong traditional concepts, the attraction of financial incentive will decrease. Therefore, the organ donation rate will hard to increase and financial incentive will become ineffective.

Conclusion

The growing influence of low organ donation rate has alarmed the public. It calls urgently requires the concerns of everyone to think of an effective solution to put a halt to this issue. It is our hope to live in affluence but also living healthily. Hence, we should strike a balance between two sides of opinion and work hand in hand to find out the most effective solution to increase the organ donation rate.

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