How will these resources help you?

The topic of organ transplants is often included in KS4 and KS5 specifications, but few resources explore the full range of ethical issues they raise. The organ trade is a fascinating topic and leads to many interesting discussions with students. Between five and ten per cent of organ transplants come from illegal trafficking internationally. The practice is often presented in clear-cut terms as purely an evil, exploitative trade that creates helpless victims. However, key academics argue that remuneration for organ sales (currently illegal in most countries and against UN policy) could help ‘victims’ gain some volition and offer them more choices. I find the best moments in the classroom are when students start to see the grey areas in this kind of debate and recognise that there are often no unequivocal answers. The resources suggested here show a range of ethical views and aim to help students see beyond a generalised ‘victim’ view of organ sales while exploring the ethics of human commodification.