Kidneys and Controversies in the Islamic Republic of Iran: The Case of Organ Sale

World-wide, scholars, economists and ethicists have debated the use of financial incentives for living unrelated kidney and liver donors, as a possible means to solve the problem of 'organ shortages'. In 2004, for example, Wisconsin passed a bill permitting tax credit of up to $10,000 for living organ donors. As we draw closer to officially legitimizing the commodification of human organs, it is important to explore the potential ramifications of such a system. As the only country in the world where there is a government-sponsored system for compensating living-unrelated organ donors, the system of organ sales in the Islamic Republic of Iran is often considered an example for other countries considering such a system. Iran has even earned a reputation among dialysis patients in the United States as a potential destination for transplant tourism, if they could secure an Iranian visa. Although this system has been successful in reducing suffering for dialysis patients, the ramifications for paid living donors have yet to be fully explored. This article explores the creation of Iran's system of financial compensation for living donors, including how notions of death and ownership of the body complicate the decisions surrounding organ transplantation in Iran. [Reprinted by permission of Sage Publications Ltd., copyright 2007.]