Man says he sold kidney in U.S. for $20k

Source: AP/MSNBC

NEW YORK - In 2005, a rebellious and sporadically employed Israeli man flew to New York to give up a kidney to save an American businessman. For that, he says he was paid $20,000, which appeared in a brown envelope on his hospital bed after the operation.

That payoff would be illegal.

But the kidney donor, 39-year-old Nick Rosen of Tel Aviv, says that doesn't matter. "I smoke pot. That's also against the law."

Rosen believes he did a good deed and that organ donors like him should be compensated. Much of his story can be confirmed, and the case gives new resonance to claims that a black market for kidneys has thrived even in the United States.

Rosen made a video about his transplant experience, and near the end of it, he is seen reclining on a bed piled with cash. A subtitle says: "This is what $20,000 looks like." It's hard to tell the amount, but the $100 face of Ben Franklin is visible on the bills.



Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32464069/ns/health-health_care/

trafficking in human organs? Sure sounds like it...

It's very major surgery, painful to recover from (I have heard) and then you are short one kidney if you ever really need it.

This is the definition of depravity. Rich people buying the organs of poor people.

as I don't really believe in consensual crimes. Of course, I would want some system in place to make sure that people have a cooling off period so that people don't sell their organs while coming down from a drug binge or something like that.

if you have it to sell.

Only it's your life, instead.

ps - you think the exploitative buyer would do the same for you if the positions were reversed? Not on your life, chump.

I wasn't talking about positions being reversed.

I don't have a problem with it. When you think about it, it's a victimless crime. It's just that he probably could have gotten a lot more money for it. And it's not the rich robbing the poor, because no one forced him to give it up, nor, after reading background, does it sound like his situation forced him into it. He was just a guy who wanted money.

That boy was robbed. $20K would not be enough even for the testing I had to go thru 25 years ago when I donated a kidney to my diabetic sister. I'm thinking of one test in particular where they shoot radioactive dye into the major artery in your leg. I thought my head was going to explode. I tried to get off the table and the tech grabbed me and threw me back on.

I was in the hospital for 3 days. My sister was in for a month. At the time, I was a skinny little runner, so the scar went half way around my body. Now, it doesn't look nearly as big! For awhile, it feels like your organs are all sloshing around in the empty space (especially when I started running again a week later), but eventually your other kidney enlarges to take up the load and everything goes back to normal.

They are only supposed to last about 10 years. My sister just passed a couple years ago now, so I figure I gave her a good 'un. I used to threaten to repossess it when she would go on twinkie binges. It probably would still be chugging, if a new doctor hadn't taken her off the correct meds..........

But you must be very glad you could give her another 20 years.

That is a helluva thing to go through - a real gift of love.

Bless you for doing that for your sister doodadem. My brother needs a kidney desperately, and I am asked to
do the tests to see if I am a viable doner. I am a bit of a chicken, but I cannot imagine NOT helping if I can. I am 58 yrs. old. Thanks for sharing your experiences - helped me to read your post.

Who knows, maybe in the last 25 years, the tests have gotten better.

Don't be chicken--go for it. You'll be glad you did.

With this crap economy that is going nowhere!

Just like a hooker should be able to do what she wants. It's her body. There shouldn't be a market for organs. More people should donate organs when they die. Families should receive some compensation and burial covered. That would also bring the cost of health care down if organs transplants were easier.

O+ if anybody's interested. I have no family history of kidney disease, I could use the money more than the spare. ;)

Now I know what they mean- "the money's already there".

Seeing as though they voluntarily put themselves at risk.

I need the $60k.