The state of the organ trade: Narratives of corruption in Egypt and Bangladesh

Abstract

This paper provides a comparative analysis of the trade in human organs in Egypt and Bangladesh. The authors draw on extensive qualitative and ethnographic fieldwork in both countries to assess the efficacy of legal measures in response to the organ trade. Despite the introduction of tough criminal sanctions in Egypt and Bangladesh the buying and selling of organs (e.g., kidneys, liver lobes) has continued unabated. Although there have been some sporadic attempts from law enforcement to curb organ trading, political indifference to the bodies of the poor and vested commercial interests (of state and non-state actors) means that the organ trade remains a relatively low risk crime with high profits. Adopting the view that support not punishment is integral to reducing crime we argue that enhancing social support, e.g., increasing public expenditure on healthcare, would limit demand for illegal transplants and disrupt the symbiotic arrangements that underpin organ markets.