Future Bodies. Preventing organ trafficking – focusing on solutions to the organ shortage.

Transplant travel is a growing practice of meeting the shortage of organs. These purchased treatments occur in a market that includes legally organized cross-border care as well as completely illegal activities. Thus, there is a sliding scale where the shortage of organs is becoming a morally and legally grey area with the potential for medical tourism ending up in a black economy. Transplant travel and organ trafficking are illustrative examples of a new form of global economy, in which peoples’ bodies are commodities. Reports indicate organ trafficking grows across the globe. WHO and TTS have estimated that about 10% of organ transplants around the world involve these activities.

Transplant travel is a growing practice of meeting the shortage of organs. These purchased treatments occur in a market that includes legally organized cross-border care as well as completely illegal activities. Thus, there is a sliding scale where the shortage of organs is becoming a morally and legally grey area with the potential for medical tourism ending up in a black economy. Transplant travel and organ trafficking are illustrative examples of a new form of global economy, in which peoples’ bodies are commodities. Reports indicate organ trafficking grows across the globe. WHO and TTS have estimated that about 10% of organ transplants around the world involve these activities.