Should It Be Illicit to Solicit ? A Legal Analysis of Policy Options to Regulate Solicitation of Organs for Transplant

Abstract

Recently, there have been several well-publicized cases in which a patient in need of a transplant has solicited an organ through the use of commercial advertising and organized media campaigns. When deceased organs are directed to an individual as a result of solicitation rather than allocated through the national system, equity and medical utility are sacrificed. For this reason, regulation of deceased organ solicitation may be desirable. However, because solicitation of organs is likely to be considered constitutionally protected charitable speech, there are significant legal issues to consider. This article analyzes the legality of four possible policy options to resolve the ethical dilemma raised by solicitation of deceased organs for transplant