Cadaveric vs Live Organ Donation

The basic point is simple - financial incentives for cadaveric donation of organs would save lives and would also reduce the demand for live donation, a costly and difficult procedure. (See my previous posts on this issue here and here). Tyler's post obscures the basic point by introducing a debate about "a truly free market in organs" by which he means allowing payment for live donors. I won't be drawn into that debate today, not because it isn't an interesting issue, but because it is not germane to the issue of financial incentives for cadaveric donation. We should have the latter regardless of our position on the former. Note also that for obvious reasons live donation primarily affects kidneys only and doesn't reach the issue of how to save the lives of transplant patients who needs hearts, lungs and other organs.