Our physical body is worth more than we may think. Some people will pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for specific body parts.
Some items can be sold without harming the body since they regrow or replenish, like blood plasma, hair, and sperm. There are also organs, such as the heart, which cost more since they can only be transplanted once the donor dies.
Heart Transplant Procedure
A heart transplant is a procedure where a failing heart is replaced with a healthier heart from a donor. It is usually reserved for people whose condition has not improved with medications or surgery.
This procedure allows a patient with congenital heart disease to have a normal heart with average blood circulation. If the transplant becomes successful, the function of the heart and the flow of the blood will be better than ever.
Not everyone can be eligible for a heart transplant. Before a person becomes a candidate for this procedure, a healthcare provider decides the best treatment for heart failure. The patient will also need to undergo a transplant evaluation process, including blood tests, diagnostic tests, and psychological and social evaluations.
A heart transplant is a medical procedure that requires an open heart surgery. Two or more healthcare providers must declare that the donor is brain-dead to remove the heart from the donor. The procedure may vary according to the patient's condition and the healthcare provider's practice.
The failing heart is removed by transecting the aorta, the main pulmonary artery, the superior and inferior vena cava, and dividing the left atrium. This leaves the back wall of the left atrium with the pulmonary vein openings in place. The doctor connects the donor heart by sewing together the recipient and donor vena cava, aorta, pulmonary artery, and left atrium. For patients with congenital heart disease, the doctor may simultaneously transplant both the lungs and the heart.
In such intricate surgical procedures, the risk of medical malpractice cases is a significant concern. To mitigate these risks, stringent protocols and quality assurance measures are essential. Regular audits and peer reviews can help identify areas for improvement and ensure adherence to best practices.
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How Much Does a Heart Cost?
The cost of a human heart depends on whether it is sold legally or through the black market. The heart is the biggest-ticket organ that can be legally sold in the U.S. as of 2020, a legal heart donation costs $1,664,800, covering a major part of the estimated fee associated with a heart transplant procedure. Widespread heart disease is one of the main reasons this particular organ is so expensive. The intestine follows it, worth about $1,240,000, and bone marrow costs $1,071,700.
On the black market, the price of a human heart is considerably lower, up to about 10% of the above cost. In the United States alone, almost 123,000 people need an organ, but only 14,000 are donated annually. This means that every day, there are about 18 people who die waiting for a transplant. This global shortage of organs has caused a surge in supply in the black market.
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