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Need Cash? Got a Kidney?

Personal kidney sales ($50K a pop) would speed up system, Aussie doc says

By Sam Gale Rosen,  Newser Staff

Posted May 5, 2008 6:17 PM CDT

(Newser) – An Australian doctor says the young and healthy should be allowed to sell a kidney for $50,000 Australian (about $47,000 US). Otherwise, patients either languish for years without a needed transplant or travel to third-world countries where they can buy organs on the black market, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

"We've tried everything to drum up support for organ donation and the rates have not risen in 10 years," says Dr. Gavin Carney. "People just don't seem willing to give their organs away for free."

Dr. Rebecka Meyers begins operating on Maliyah Herrin for a transplant Tuesday, April 3, 2007, at Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City.
Dr. Rebecka Meyers begins operating on Maliyah Herrin for a transplant Tuesday, April 3, 2007, at Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City.   (AP Photo/Al Hartmann, Pool)
Transplant surgeons Dr. Allan Kirk and Dr. Thomas Pearson transplant a kidney in eight-year-old Sarah Dickman at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston in Atlanta, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2008.
Transplant surgeons Dr. Allan Kirk and Dr. Thomas Pearson transplant a kidney in eight-year-old Sarah Dickman at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston in Atlanta, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2008.   (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
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