Misc How much for your kidney?

Skyy God · 07-13-2010, 10:59 AM

Apparently the cost of a patient in dialysis (for the 5 year waiting period) is roughly 150K.

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.co...ney-worth.html

The math is simple. In a country the size of the United States, a payment, either direct (cash, vouchers, or tax credits) or indirect (tuition, charitable donations, etc.) of, say, $20,000 to kidney donors would probably produce enough donated kidneys each year to eliminate or drastically reduce the backlog of approximately 83,000 people waiting for their turn to receive a donated kidney. This financial inducement would cost about $1.7 billion. The federal government currently pays 100 percent of the cost for treating most people with end-stage renal disease. With the average annual cost estimated at about $30,000 to maintain one person on dialysis, the taxpayers are paying about $8 billion a year to dialyze fellow citizens in kidney failure. Furthermore, people usually wait about five years to receive a donated kidney unless they are fortunate enough to have a living donor offer one of their two healthy kidneys. Thus, the actual total cost to the taxpayers of maintaining fellow citizens on dialysis for five years is approximately $40 billion.

rambleonthruthefog · 07-13-2010, 11:48 AM

i'd consider selling it for a couple million. but since were overpopulated ill just keep it for myself or an immediate/young relative.

ClevelandBronco · 07-13-2010, 02:19 PM

I'd have a sliding scale that would depend on how much the recipient annoys me.

rageeumr · 07-13-2010, 02:27 PM

I don't know the answer to this question. I can tell you with absolute certainty, however, that the answer is multiple orders of magnitude higher than their $20,000 number.

DJ's left nut · 07-13-2010, 02:30 PM

Depends.

If I move to the top of the list in the event that I need an extra kidney of my own some day - I'd sell mine for about $50K.

At that point, I have the safety net of knowing that I'll be taken care of should I actually desperately need that spare, but I've also, in effect, mortgaged the spare.

"Make your kidney work for you"

RJ · 07-13-2010, 02:34 PM

I'm saving mine for that special someone.

**Iowanian** · 07-13-2010, 03:47 PM

I'd give a kidney to a friend, family or person I felt inclined to let have it, but I don't think mine would be for sale.

ToxSocks · 07-13-2010, 04:15 PM

Mine would have a "For Rent" sign on it. And they better give it back in good shape too. Or they won't be getting that deposit back.

**CrazyPhuD** · 07-13-2010, 04:34 PM

WTH I thought the Doc would give me a pill and I'd regrow my kidney...

Infidel Goat · 07-13-2010, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Depends.

If I move to the top of the list in the event that I need an extra kidney of my own some day - I'd sell mine for ....

At that point, I have the safety net of knowing that I'll be taken care of should I actually desperately need that spare, but I've also, in effect, mortgaged the spare.
"

This answer is correct, I think.

The only ethical qualm I have is that the govt would set the figure at such a low threshhold that only those living in poverty would do so. $50,000 might not be the magic number, but I'd be comfortable if the US govt set a figure that 50% of US citizens would accept (whether it be <$25,000 or >$75,000). It'd be higher than a lot of people would like ("quit spending my money)--but I think it is probably more egalitarian than fleecing the poor. And more importantly, I think it would be good for health care.

**bevischief** · 07-13-2010, 04:59 PM

Show me the money!

I want enough to pay for another one if needed and have fun.

seclark · 07-13-2010, 05:24 PM

tree fiddy
40oz
sec

**digger** · 07-13-2010, 06:08 PM

FYI, sullie is so the ghey....

View Poll Results: Would you sell a kidney for
20K	2	7.14%
50K	7	25.00%
150K	2	7.14%
$1M+	14	50.00%
Only if someone drugs and leaves me in a bathtub	2	7.14%
Gaz's kidney only	1	3.57%
Voters: 28. You may not vote on this poll

07-13-2010, 10:59 AM
Skyy God 11-5, baby Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Livin the dream Casino cash: $2191557	How much for your kidney? Apparently the cost of a patient in dialysis (for the 5 year waiting period) is roughly 150K. http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.co...ney-worth.html The math is simple. In a country the size of the United States, a payment, either direct (cash, vouchers, or tax credits) or indirect (tuition, charitable donations, etc.) of, say, $20,000 to kidney donors would probably produce enough donated kidneys each year to eliminate or drastically reduce the backlog of approximately 83,000 people waiting for their turn to receive a donated kidney. This financial inducement would cost about $1.7 billion. The federal government currently pays 100 percent of the cost for treating most people with end-stage renal disease. With the average annual cost estimated at about $30,000 to maintain one person on dialysis, the taxpayers are paying about $8 billion a year to dialyze fellow citizens in kidney failure. Furthermore, people usually wait about five years to receive a donated kidney unless they are fortunate enough to have a living donor offer one of their two healthy kidneys. Thus, the actual total cost to the taxpayers of maintaining fellow citizens on dialysis for five years is approximately $40 billion.
Posts: 22,416

07-13-2010, 11:48 AM	#2
rambleonthruthefog Veteran Join Date: May 2008 Location: Austin, Texas Casino cash: $5395026	i'd consider selling it for a couple million. but since were overpopulated ill just keep it for myself or an immediate/young relative.
Posts: 1,402

07-13-2010, 02:19 PM	#3
ClevelandBronco I'm with the banned. Join Date: Sep 2006 Casino cash: $5658955	I'd have a sliding scale that would depend on how much the recipient annoys me. __________________ "Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth ..." – Pope Saint John Paul II
Posts: 28,113

07-13-2010, 02:27 PM	#4
rageeumr Veteran Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: St. Louis :( Casino cash: $9989900	I don't know the answer to this question. I can tell you with absolute certainty, however, that the answer is multiple orders of magnitude higher than their $20,000 number.
Posts: 2,313

07-13-2010, 02:30 PM	#5
DJ's left nut Sauntering Vaguely Downwards Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Columbia, Mo Casino cash: $2719099	Depends. If I move to the top of the list in the event that I need an extra kidney of my own some day - I'd sell mine for about $50K. At that point, I have the safety net of knowing that I'll be taken care of should I actually desperately need that spare, but I've also, in effect, mortgaged the spare. "Make your kidney work for you" __________________ "If there's a god, he's laughing at us.....and our football team..." "When you look at something through rose colored glasses, all the red flags just look like flags."
Posts: 60,763

07-13-2010, 02:34 PM	#6
RJ Supporter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: In a shotgun shack Casino cash: $9955202	I'm saving mine for that special someone.
Posts: 14,931

07-13-2010, 03:47 PM	#7
Iowanian Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Utopia Casino cash: $4638454	I'd give a kidney to a friend, family or person I felt inclined to let have it, but I don't think mine would be for sale.
Posts: 61,556

07-13-2010, 04:15 PM	#8
ToxSocks Needs more middle fingers Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: San Diego Casino cash: $4054563	Mine would have a "For Rent" sign on it. And they better give it back in good shape too. Or they won't be getting that deposit back. __________________ Life is like a dick. Sometimes it gets hard for no reason, but it can't stay hard forever.
Posts: 64,561

07-13-2010, 04:34 PM	#9
CrazyPhuD Meow Join Date: Jun 2005 Casino cash: $10005050	WTH I thought the Doc would give me a pill and I'd regrow my kidney... __________________ "Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t*rd by the clean end"
Posts: 8,523

07-13-2010, 04:59 PM	#11
bevischief .... Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Somewhere Kansas Casino cash: $8659352 VARSITY	Show me the money! I want enough to pay for another one if needed and have fun.
Posts: 27,731

07-13-2010, 05:24 PM	#12
seclark MVP Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: nemo Casino cash: $1409900	tree fiddy 40oz sec __________________ "Mr. seclark. Wrong for gravy, wrong for jelly, wrong for biscuits." -rj "If every Planeteer who was disliked by another Planeteer stopped being a Planeteer we wouldn't have any Planeteers." -rj
Posts: 13,403

07-13-2010, 06:08 PM	#13
digger Thread I will end you....... Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Kansas City, KS Casino cash: $1542608 VARSITY	FYI, sullie is so the ghey....
Posts: 8,979