Good on Paper Would You Give Up Your Kidney for $50,000?
Oct 1, 2024
Dylan Matthews is a Vox contributor who made headlines by donating his kidney to a stranger. In this engaging discussion, he weighs the ethical dilemmas of compensating kidney donors, proposing the idea of a $50,000 incentive amid a critical organ shortage. He delves into the personal and financial challenges faced by living donors, while exploring societal perceptions and policy inconsistencies. The conversation also debates the moral implications of financial incentives and critiques traditional altruism in organ donation.
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Dylan's Donation
- Dylan Matthews donated a kidney to a stranger in 2016, after years of consideration and conversations with other donors.
- He was more nervous about inconveniencing his family than the surgery itself.
Kidney Demand
- Most organ transplants needed are kidneys, making them high in demand.
- Kidney failure can result from various factors and a transplant is the best treatment.
Donation Risks
- Kidney donation has low mortality risk, especially with laparoscopic surgery.
- Long-term, kidney donors have slightly increased risk of kidney failure themselves, but it remains low.