The International Trafficking of Human Organs: A Multidisciplinary Perspective

Summary

International illicit trade in human organs is on the increase, fueled by growing demand and unscrupulous traffickers. In order to truly understand the problem of organ trafficking, an analysis should take into account the various perspectives that come into play in this multifaceted issue. With contributions from international scholars and experts, The International Trafficking of Human Organs: A Multidisciplinary Perspective provides a broad-based exploration of this controversial phenomenon.

Divided into four parts, the book examines the issue of human organ trafficking from the perspectives of criminal justice; business and economic; medical, ethical, and philosophical; and theological. The book begins by presenting case studies of the trafficking of body parts occurring in the U.S. and Mexico. It examines the increase in organ harvesting from Chinese prisoners and describes widespread instances of trafficking in Europe.

Diverse perspectives

Next, it examines the economic ramifications of possible legislation of the sale of body parts and discusses other proposals for increasing the supply of kidneys and other organs. It explores ethical issues surrounding the kidney shortage and incentives to promote donation. It also offers arguments for and against compensation for transplant organs from Kantian, Dworkinian, and other perspectives. Lastly, theologians discuss opposing Catholic and Protestant perspectives on the sale of human organs.

Learning tools

Each chapter provides discussion questions to provoke vigorous debate and references to facilitate further study. The wide-ranging analysis provided by this volume is certain to enhance further inquiry into a disturbing and increasingly prevalent issue.

Features

• Provides a multi-disciplinary perspective to the issue of human organs trafficking
• Consolidates critical data from varied sources
• Examines instances of forced organ donations from prisoners
• Offers philosophical perspectives on the ethics of organ sales
• Comprehensive instructor’s manual with learning objectives, answers to end-of-chapter discussion questions, test bank of multiple choice questions, and list of DVDs, websites, and U.S. regulatory and criminal statutes dealing with the trafficking of human organs available with qualifying course adoption

Table of Contents

A Criminal Justice Perspective

• Trafficking in Body Parts; L. Territo, EdD and R. Matteson, PhD
• China Profit$ from Prisoners: Organ Procurement and the Ethical Issue of Consent; J. Neagle, MA
• Trafficking in Human Organs in Europe: A Myth or an Actual Threat? S. Meyer, PhD

A Business and Economic Perspective

• A Free Market for Human Organs; M. Clay, MA and W. Block, PhD
• Karnataka’s Unabating Kidney Trade; V. Ram, MS
• To Solve a Deadly Shortage: Economic Incentives for Human Organ Donation; C. E. Harris, MS, MD, JD and S. P. Alcorn, JD
• A Free Market for Kidneys: Options, Futures, Forward, and Spot; W. Barnett II, PhD and M. Saliba

A Medical, Ethical, and Philosophical Perspective

• Medical Tourism: Organ Trafficking and Kidney Transplantation; S. (A.) Mijovic-Das, MD, FASN
• Body Values: The Case against Compensating for Transplant Organs; D. Joralemon, PhD and P. Cox, PhD
• Autonomy, Constraining Options, and Organ Sales; J. S. Taylor, PhD
• Markets and the Needy: Organ Sales or Aid? T. L. Zutlevics, PhD
• Selling Bits and Pieces of Humans to Make Babies: The Gift of the Magi Revisited; C. B. Cohen, PhD, JD

A Theological Perspective

• A Catholic Perspective on Organ Sales; N. Capaldi, PhD
• Body Parts and the Marketplace: Insights from Thomistic Philosophy; M. J. Cherry, PhD
• The Commercialization of Human Body Parts: A Reappraisal from a Protestant Perspective; L. Torcello, PhD and S. Wear, PhD

Author

Dr. Leonard Territo and Dr. Rande W. Matteson are with the Department of Criminal Justice at Saint Leo University in Saint Leo, Florida.