Rationing: Transplants and Blood Donations

Question 1

How can donor rates for transplants be increased? 3 examples

Answer 1

1. Replace Opt In Schemes with Opt Out Scheme
2. Financial Incentives
3. Use of Transplant Co-ordinators / Clinical leads in hospitals

Question 2

Give three examples of Markets for blood & organs

Answer 2

Infertility / Sperm market
Microbiota market
Blood market

Question 3

Why shouldn’t we use a financial market for blood?

Answer 3

1. Represses altruism
2. Erodes the sense of community
3. Sanctions profits in hospitals / clinics
4. Subjects medicine to place market rules
5. Increases blood supply from poor / unemployed / unskilled
6. Commercialisation may increase infection risk