Should Kidney Donors be Compensated?

Is it time to seriously consider whether kidney donors should be paid? The idea has always been dismissed out of ethical concerns, but as the need for kidneys and the cost of caring of patients on dialysis continues to rise, opinions are beginning to change. Did you know, for example, that the cost of caring for patients on dialysis now consumes 7% of the entire Medicare budget? Are you aware that some countries DO now compensate kidney donors in one form or another, without any obvious negative consequences?

For an interesting and informative take on this issue, read the well-documented opinion piece in The New York Times by Tina Rosenberg. She covers the subject much better than I could here.