Payment for Living Kidney Donors (Vendors) Is Not an Abstract Ethical Discussion Occurring in a Vacuum

The ongoing debate about whether to consider payment for living kidney donors (vendors) is not an abstract ethical discussion occurring in a vacuum.Transplant candidates are dying on the waiting list.In fact, 6.3% of kidney candidates die while waiting each year (1), all of whom were acceptable candidates when listed.Numerous studies have now shown that survival for transplant recipients is significantly better than for wait-listed dialysis patients, and that survival time after a transplant is inversely related to waiting time (2-5).In addition, in many countries, kidney sales are already taking place, but in unregulated systems without any protection for donors (6).