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Spacer Introduction Spacer Responses Spacer Cloning Spacer Incentives Spacer Awareness Spacer Coercion Spacer Lifestyle Spacer Conclusion Spacer

Here are your responses to the handout "Alternative Solutions to the Shortage of Organs" from last week:

Question #1: The government has capped the price of organs at $0, it is illegal to sell your own organs. Do you agree with the government's decision, or disagree?

  • The majority of students who responded did in fact agree with the government's decision to forbid the selling of organs.
  • Out of 74 students, 54 were for the government's decision while only 20 were against it.
  • So, that makes 73% for and 27% against.

Question #2: Other than selling and donating organs, what other solutions are there to increase the supply in the market?

  • 29 students felt that cloning research would be the best alternative solution to increase the supply of organs.
  • 25 students felt that if the government offered incentives such as tax breaks or lowered health insurance for organ donors, there would be an increase in the supply of potential donors.
  • 16 students felt that public awareness of organ donation would end the shortage problem.
  • 10 students felt that the government should coerce people to donate their organs if healthy ones exist after death.
  • 2 students felt that healthier lifestyles should be promoted to decrease the need for organs.

Question #3: How will these solutions have an impact on the shortage of organs? Why?

  • The ultimate result of all of these solutions would be an increase in supply and a decrease in the demand for organ transplants.

Quotes:

- "I agree with the government's decision to cap the price at $0. Although the demand far exceeds the supply at that price, at least everyone that receives a transplant is treated equally, where no discrimination between rich and poor patients' exist." (Pat LaPerle)

- "If organs could be purchased, the rich would be the ones acquiring most of the available organs, and the poor would probably be the ones selling them." (Paula Talbot)

- "I don't agree with the government, however, there should be a price cap to avoid unlawful acts to gain profit from others organs." (John Dominguez)