ORGAN REPLACEMENT-GOVERNMENT PAYS
The owner of the Ottawa Senators, Eugene Melnyk has created an issue of entitlement. Why should a prominent man with money, even though it was not spent, be allowed to get a liver replacement because he was well-known, and his problem was given prominence in the newspapers. Most ordinary Canadians with a similar need for an organ replacement would never reach the attention of the press. There are many Canadians and some who need a liver replacement, who are left unattended. Is there a simple solution?
When a Canadian has the money, he or she, can buy a house in the nicest neighbourhood, go on an expensive vacation, eat at the fanciest restaurants and wear clothes that are out of the reach of most. No problem! Our society accepts this situation with equanimity . If you got the bucks do what you like. But with health care, Canada tries as much as possible, to level the playing field between the rich and the poor, and pity the misguided politician who tries to change the system. Our health is just too fundamental to our society.
Organs are the private property of the person in which they are found. That person can sell his house or his car but not his organ, as there would be a bidding up process and the rich would benefit. That does not fit in with the Canadian system. So make it fit in with the system. Let the donor collect a stipulated price from the government and the government sets the price. The government gives the organ to the recipient who does not pay the government for it. Just another service the government provides. The donor receives his money from the government. He would be just another person whose service the government needs.
The organ does belong to the donor and if the donor is willing for money to sell all or part why not.? The donor would not be known, and neither would the recipient so that no money could secretly change hands. The government now pays for medical and pharmaceutical services, a stay in hospitals, drugs, bandages, and other services too numerous to mention. Why not sell organs if available.The organ could only be sold by the owner to the government and not by his family upon his death, unless proper papers were signed with legal controls. A person cannot sell his organ if it will result assuredly in death. Obviously safeguards would have to be instituted to prevent any abuse.
