Recent articles such as Transplant tourism poses ethical dilemma for US doctors and Majority of doctors skeptical of organ transplantation practices in China bring the issue of “Transplant Tourism” under the microscope.
At risk of quibbling over semantics, the name “Transplant Tourism” makes me shudder. When you are talking about surgery as major as a vital organ transplant, to trivialize it by the mere suggestion of beaches and palm trees is near criminal. I prefer the term Medical Travel over Medical Tourism, yet, I guess, Transplant Travel is not quite as catchy or sensationalist.
The process of traveling overseas for transplants is driven by desperation, let’s face it, for something like this, the ideal is to have it in an environment where you feel comfortable and can be assured that you have top-notch surgeons and facilities at your disposal, yet the sheer idea of “buying” an organ suggests that the regulations that you would normally desire around healthcare are absent in that “transplant tourism” destination. However, through inaccessibility of treatment, due to cost or wait times, patient’s are compelled to lower their standards of ethics, quality or both in order to regain their failing health.
Much is written about the evils of Medical Tourism and the impact on developing nation’s healthcare for its natives, this practice is yet another fine example of this. Who is missing out on an organ because someone wealthier from another nation can afford one?
It is these factors that would lead you to dust off your placards and join a movement to place a blanket ban on this phenomenon, however in many cases there is still room for Medical Travel in relation to transplants… well some of them anyway.
Live Donor Renal Transplant’s when carried out ethically are an option for those who have access to a live donor and can be more affordable when performed out of the USA. It is important for institutions and facilitators to screen donor’s, to avoid the “paid donor” trap however.
For example it is possible for patient’s to receive live donor renal transplants in leading New Zealand private hospitals for around one third of the cost in the US, including flights, accommodation (around 6 week stay) surgery and hospitalization for donor and recipient, drugs, aftercare and contingency insurance. Strict regulations around health care provision in New Zealand ensure that the procedure is carried out to a high standard and ethically, including checks to ensure that the live donor’s are known to the recipient and sourced ethically.
So, while the unscrupulous processes will no doubt continue with Transplant Tourism it is comforting to know that there are options for those who can’t access care at home, where they do not have to lower their standards in terms of quality and ethics.
