Sold for Parts: Moral Connections between Paid Surrogacy and Paid Organ Donation
Abstract
Throughout this presentation, I make ethical arguments about paid surrogacy, based on established arguments regarding paid living organ donation possible due to similarities between the procedures. I establish the differences between conceptualizations of surrogacy: unpaid/altruistic and paid/compensated, and clarify what is meant by paid surrogacy. The primary similarity between paid living organ donation and paid surrogacy is that both practices are a 'voluntary' violation of bodily integrity for financial benefit. I argue that both practices due to financial incentives cannot truly be seen as voluntary. I argue that the reasons that are used to understand paid living organ donation as immoral, can also be extended to paid surrogacy. Lastly, I argue that it is the moral responsibility of an ethical state to protect its citizens from exploitative practices that disrupt bodily integrity, even at the risk of breaching autonomy.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Vicki Toscano
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Sherman Library
Start Date
1-4-2026 12:43 PM
End Date
2-4-2026 12:00 PM
Sold for Parts: Moral Connections between Paid Surrogacy and Paid Organ Donation
Alvin Sherman Library
Throughout this presentation, I make ethical arguments about paid surrogacy, based on established arguments regarding paid living organ donation possible due to similarities between the procedures. I establish the differences between conceptualizations of surrogacy: unpaid/altruistic and paid/compensated, and clarify what is meant by paid surrogacy. The primary similarity between paid living organ donation and paid surrogacy is that both practices are a 'voluntary' violation of bodily integrity for financial benefit. I argue that both practices due to financial incentives cannot truly be seen as voluntary. I argue that the reasons that are used to understand paid living organ donation as immoral, can also be extended to paid surrogacy. Lastly, I argue that it is the moral responsibility of an ethical state to protect its citizens from exploitative practices that disrupt bodily integrity, even at the risk of breaching autonomy.
