The human body has incredible stamina. Our body is able to continue to function, even having lost limbs, significant fragments of the skin and some internal organs. We have long been accustomed to blood donation, but is it possible to donate something else to another person?
With normal development from birth, a person has two completely identical kidneys. However, with serious illnesses or injuries, one such organ may be destroyed. In this case, with appropriate treatment and recovery, the patient will continue to live a full life with one kidney. But there are more complex clinical cases when, for some reason, a person loses both paired organs. In this case, transplantation is required and kidney donors are sought.
Is organ transplantation legal in Russia?
Modern medical technologies allow transplantation of internal organs from living and dead donors. In the first case, priority is given to patients to whom close blood relatives are ready to donate a kidney. To obtain an unrelated organ, the patient must stand in a specialized queue. Kidney donors are not only
healthy people who decide to save someone's life. Often, organs of the dead are used for transplantation with the permission of their loved ones. To date, in Russia, officially, a donor kidney transplant operation costs about 800,000 rubles. However, this money is paid by the insurance company under the policy of compulsory
life and health insurance. Accordingly, all operations are done free of charge for patients and in order of priority. Even if a person in need of transplantation has the necessary amount, no one will spend it on an extraordinary basis. Accordingly, voluntary donors cannot legally sell their organs.
Kidney transplantation in detail
The kidney is a paired,
vital organ of the human body related to the excretory system. Its main function is the removal of excess toxic compounds of inorganic and organic origin from the blood, as well as the end products of nitrogen metabolism and other reactions. The kidneys are a kind of filter that helps to remove all harmful substances from the circulatory system in a timely manner. By nature, each of us has two such bodies, but medical research and statistics show that you can quite successfully live with one. Today, the most popular are
liver and kidney
transplants . At the same time, demand exceeds supply, and in our country 15-30% of patients requiring transplantation die while waiting for their turn. The sale of human organs is prohibited by law in all developed countries of the world. It is this state of things that stimulates the growth of the black market. This topic is being actively discussed, and any modern person understands that organ transplantation for many equals the price of life. Accordingly, sometimes in moments of despair and with some material difficulties, the question naturally arises: how to become a kidney donor for money?
Pros and Cons of Donation
The decision to donate your blood or organs for transplantation to another person is always very difficult and serious. A potential donor should understand that, despite the high development of medicine, no one can guarantee him that the operation will be successful and without consequences. But even after the end of rehabilitation, some problems may begin. Of course, with serious diseases that destroy the tissue of the kidneys and liver, even a person with a complete set of organs is doomed. But do not forget that there is a high probability of accidents and injuries in which significant internal damage can be sustained. Donors of the kidneys and liver should be fully aware of the seriousness of the situation. And make a decision only by voluntary desire to help and save someone's life. It’s not worth risking your health because of money.
Is the operation dangerous for the donor?
A person older than 18 years of age who does not suffer from chronic diseases and who recognizes himself to be completely healthy, of his own free will, can participate in transplantation. Officially, doctors do not require adherence to a special regime and claim that each kidney donor, after the completion of the recovery period, can continue to live a full life at the usual pace. But it is important to understand that after the operation the rest of his life, his health should be treated with special attention. It is advisable to avoid excessive stress, adhere to a healthy diet, it is also useful to abandon bad habits. All kidney donors should undergo regular preventive examinations at the hospital, and for any deterioration in well-being, consult a doctor, forgetting for life self-medication.
Regarding the real danger, studies have shown that the risk of death immediately after surgery (within three months) is 3.1%. However, this indicator was obtained when observing a rather large group of donors, and it is impossible to say unequivocally that all of them died only due to the removal of one kidney. Within 12 years after kidney donation, the mortality rate among patients who donated their organs is 1.5. And this is again a common figure, including deaths for various reasons.
Black Market Organ
The problem of organ transplantation exists today in almost all developed countries of the world. Since this is often about life and death, many wealthy patients who need donor kidneys are willing to pay a substantial amount for an urgent operation. Such demand stimulates the
black market of internal organs. According to some reports, there are even special brokers in this area. They conduct transactions between patients in need of donation and people willing to sell their organs. It is to such a "specialist" that a kidney donor who wants to receive material compensation for his organ can turn. However, agreeing to such a deal, you need to understand that no guarantees are provided, since this agreement is unlawful.
Who should sell the "extra" kidney?
Trafficking in human organs is illegal in Russia and other developed world countries. When deciding to become a donor for material compensation, a person must understand that he is committing a crime for which he may be punished. At the same time, when the transaction is opened by law enforcement agencies, intermediaries and a person who buys a donor body will be found guilty. Before you think about how to become a kidney donor for money, weigh the pros and cons. When selling internal organs, there is no guarantee that compensation will be received and the operation will be performed in a quality manner. Moreover, even honest intermediaries usually pay donors minimum amounts that are not comparable with the harm done to health.
The cost of human internal organs
No country in the world provides in its legislation for compensation that donors from kidneys or other organs should receive. However, prices have long been set on the global black market for transplant materials. On average, the cost of a human kidney varies between 10-100 thousand dollars. Why is the price difference so big? Regardless of where the kidney transplant will be performed, a donor can be found in another state. In countries with underdeveloped economies, poorly educated people living in villages are ready to sell their organs, receiving compensation in the amount of 3-5 thousand dollars.
How to live with one kidney?
You can’t earn much by selling internal organs, but once and for all spoiling your own health, and possibly shortening your life considerably, is quite possible. It’s not without reason that paid donation is prohibited worldwide, the risks are too high, in addition, organ trafficking is contrary to many ethical principles. In the modern world, the question of how to become a kidney donor should be raised and considered only in case of illness of a loved one. The answer is simple: to undergo an examination and make sure of your own health and genetic compatibility. However, you should not be tormented by guilty feelings even if you can become a donor for one of the relatives, but do not want to do this. Remember: it is about your health, and risk it without a huge personal desire is not worth it.