Outline Critical Analysis
The Case of Paying for Organ Donation
Opening summary
Article’s purpose
and thesis:
Dr. Sally Satel is a psychiatrist and professor at Yale University. Dr. Satel’s essay on
“The Case of Paying for Organ Donors,” shows how there is a shortage of organ donors in
society. Dr. Satel, suggests that financial and other incentives should be introduced to raise more
transplant organs. In The Case for Paying Organ Donors, legalizing a through, well structured
and stringently monitored compensation program for organ donation will aid in significantly
reducing the two major reasons that allow for the successful existence of underground markets
and corrupt organizations. There would be a dire shortage of organs available and the
desperation that patients experience waiting for a transplant. In conjunction with a well
organized enforcement of a ban on the trafficking of human organs is the best solution to helping
the problem get better not worse.
I. Satel claims that strictly monitored and regulated donor compensation programs are
the best solution in helping to eliminate the existence of a lucrative, corrupt practice
that has only growth in its future.
A. In paragraph 9, Satel has a strong argument because she says that the task force is
worried that buying organs, even if done legally, will encourage very poor people to
sell their organs out of desperation. A fair point. Satel’s, answer is a plan that
circumvents donor exploitation by offering in-kind rewards to donors, such as
contributions to a retirement fund, an income tax credit, or tuition vouchers for their
children – rather than lump sum payments – the program would not attract desperate
people who might otherwise rush to donate for a large sum of instant cash.
B. The incentives would be provided by a third party such as a governmental entity,
charity or insurer; not by individual patients. Such...