| Kidney Donors and Organ Shortage

It is indeed hard not to feel a​ certain sadness reading arguments for legalising ‌the sale of kidneys that rely more on provocation than on engagement ‌with how healthcare systems actually work in the UK (The big idea: Should ⁣we sell our kidneys?, 25 January).

Kidney failure is devastating, ⁣and⁢ the shortage of‍ donor organs costs lives. About 7,000 ​people‍ in the UK are currently waiting for a kidney transplant,and six people die every week while waiting. It is‌ therefore concerning to read an argument that implicitly accepts⁢ continued​ late‍ diagnosis of kidney disease and progression to kidney failure as an inevitability,rather ⁢than recognising the⁣ urgent need to raise awareness of kidney disease ⁢and prioritise its prevention before lives reach crisis point.

Furthermore,the notion that altruism in the UK has reached its limits,justifying a legal market for human organs,is not supported by public attitudes,social evidence or ethics.

Kidney disease, and access to care, are already shaped by ‍inequality.⁤ Dr Paul sagar⁢ may ​recognize concerns‌ about exploitation,‍ but he does not answer the central ethical question. ⁤How can a system be just⁣ if it starts to depend on people under financial pressure selling their organs and allowing economic vulnerability to‌ become the engine of organ supply,​ while ⁢the causes of kidney failure and⁣ unequal‍ access to⁢ care remain unaddressed?

Altruism is yet to have its day. Research by the Robert Dangoor Partnership for Living Kidney Donation has shown that more than half of UK adults ​would consider ⁣donating⁢ a kidney to a family member,nearly⁣ a ‍third to a friend,and one in seven to a stranger. ‍More⁣ than two-thirds ⁤ of people say they⁢ want to make a positive impact on the‌ world, even when it comes at a personal cost.

The issue is not the absence of altruism, but how effectively we inform and enable people to act ​on their existing willingness ‌to‌ help others⁣ by raising ‌awareness and providing support for living​ kidney donation. Our work ⁣is making an active difference in this space,with support available through donateakidney.co.uk.

Saving​ lives ‍doesn’t mean monetising our organs. It demands investment in prevention, research, fair access to transplantation, ⁢and sustained support for ethical, voluntary donation.

Sandra​ Currie
Chief​ executive, Kidney Research UK

“It turns out that the main arguments​ against legalising the sale of⁢ kidneys aren’t very robust,” writes Dr Paul ⁤Sagar.There are many ‌arguments for and against the​ use of financial incentives for organ donation. Coherent debate, however, requires engagement with reliable empirical evidence. Regrettably, in