Economic and Health Consequences of Selling a Kidney in India

Abstract

Among paid donors in India, selling a kidney does not lead to a long-term economic benefit and may be associated with a decline in health. Physicians and policy makers should reexamine the value of using financial incentives to increase the supply of organs for transplantation.

Why do people sell their kidneys? A thematic synthesis of qualitative evidence

“…Kidney selling was a source of earning money and obliged people to demonize poverty as a curse; hence many respondents in the articles attempted to sell their body and relieve their debt and overcome their poverty. Our review corroborates the findings of previous studies, which have identified economic factors as the primary drivers of kidney vending in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal [ 24 – 26 , 39 , 42 ]. Furthermore, some of the studies also described vulnerability to alleviate poverty as the reason for sales [ 5 , 31 ].…”

A socioeconomic survey of kidney vendors in Pakistan

“…There are a number of reports in the literature on the fate of kidney vendors [4,20,21]. Our findings are similar to some of the studies in terms of debt being the major reason for vending, poor health and failed objectives of vending.…”

“…The other difference between our study and those of Goyal and Zargooshi on vendors [20,21] was the question of future vending. Both studies report one third subjects saying that they will not consider this option and look for other alternatives, e.g.…”

Living Kidney Donor Follow-Up in a Dedicated Clinic

“…In a study from the United States, 97% of living-related donors reaffirmed their decision to donate 12 years after nephrectomy (7). This is in sharp contrast with the negative psychosocial impact of paid unrelated renal transplantation reported by others (8,9).…”