The Political Economy of Organ Transplantation

This book explores the complex political economy surrounding organ transplantation, blending academic analysis with personal narratives. The Political Economy of Organ Transplantation offers valuable insights for students and academics.

This innovative work combines a rigorous academic analysis of the political economy of organ supply for transplantation with autobiographical narratives that illuminate the complex experience of being an organ recipient. The text examines how the relationships of organs, tissues, and cells transferred from one body to another through donation, sale, or gift are mediated by the state, market, and family. It thoroughly reviews the sociological, anthropological, and ethical literature surrounding transplant organs, while also encapsulating the author’s personal dilemmas and lived experiences.

The author skillfully underscores the negotiations and accommodations inherent in the use of these technologies, revealing the situatedness of decisions that defy simplistic readings of the ethics of transplantation. This stimulating and accessible book appeals to those interested in transplantation, ethics, or the social implications of medical technologies. Its strength lies in the reflexive accounts from the author’s experiences, juxtaposed with sensitive evaluations of the workings of the state, market, and family in the organ economy.

The Political Economy of Organ Transplantation explores the different sources of organ donations: living and post-mortem. Each source presents distinct routes and interactions between donor and recipient, charged with moral meanings that can vary. By drawing on personal experiences of waiting and searching for organs, the author highlights aspects of this political economy, including post-mortem donations, parental donation, and the organ market, while illustrating the fear of rejection and the challenges posed by chronic shortages.