Tales from the Organ Trade (2013)

There is a market for just about everything and even for the strangest items there are buyers available. This is also the case when it comes to health. When someone knows he won’t have a long time to live unless he/she finds a donor they will search for any option that might solve their problem. One of the possibilities is illegally having an operation done where you pay someone else to donate one of their organs. This documentary jumps into the world of the trade in kidneys.

At the start of the movie it shows the viewer a big number of men who all have a big scar on the side of their body. It turns out they all chose to make money selling one of their kidneys, which they have mainly done to escape their poor living conditions. It is an easy way to make a lot of money quickly, despite the fact that it is illegal to get paid for donating a kidney. From there the many sides of the organ trade are explored. What’s so impressive about it, is that documentary maker Ric Esther Bienstock has managed to get all the parties involved in front of the camera. Donors, middle men, a surgeon and a patient who have received donor kidney. They all talk about their experiences and the ethical side of the organ trade. The legal side of it all is also looked as a prosecutor is followed as he tries to bring the people involved to justice. He makes it clear that the people who have given their kidneys were taken advantage of because of the situation they are in.

By shining light on all sides of the organ trade, as a viewer you get a good idea of the issues involved. Is organ trade something which should be prevented? It is a question this documentary leaves up to the viewer. New laws might be able to solve the negative issues that are currently present.