Dundee man Ronnie McIntosh, who underwent a life-saving transplant, has criticised a call from a leading academic in the city for people to be allowed to sell their kidneys.
Professor Sue Rabbitt Roff of Dundee University has suggested paying donors around £28,000 could increase the number of organs available and cut waiting lists.
Mr McIntosh (61) from Douglas who had to wait six years for a suitable kidney donor said the idea was “totally out of order.”
He said, “I don’t think anybody should sell an organ. I think it would give rich people an advantage, when there are lots of poor people looking for them.
“There are more less-well-off people waiting on transplants. I think it would create a lot of problems if this was allowed to happen.”
Writing in a personal capacity in the British Medical Journal, Professor Roff said, “The rate of donation of kidneys from deceased and living donors has never kept pace with the need.”
Currently less than a third of the population in the UK where the sale of organs is illegal are registered donors.
Dundee father-of-four Mohammed Razak (53) who had a kidney transplant last year said the practice was common in India and Pakistan, although no cash changed hands.
He said, “If people do pay, it should be confidential. I think people would take more notice if money was involved, whether they then decide to take the money or not.”Call 0300 123 23 23 or click here to register as an organ donor.