A scar like this one in the photo is like a trophy in one place in the Philippines (translation necessary, text is mainly in Filipino). Mostly men - mainly due to poverty - are forced to sell one of their kidneys for a price (80,000 to 200,000 PHP or approximately 1600 to 4000 US$).

That fact is like an open secret in this country. It is being reported in newspapers and expose' shows. But the trade of kidney for transplants in the black market remains rampant. Why? Because there are people in the western world who have the money to pay while there are poor people in the east (mainly Asia) who would go as far as selling their kidneys just to survive.

So I am not really surprised when I saw this news: Rogue kidney brokers resell organs from poorest nations on black market.

The arrest of a Brooklyn man Thursday on organ trafficking charges sheds a new spotlight on an underground business where wretchedly poor foreigners - particularly in India - are paid $2,000 to $10,000 for kidneys.

Those kidneys are ultimately sold for as much as $180,000 to transplant recipients who otherwise could die.

More than 80,000 Americans were waiting for kidney transplants as of last week, the United Network for Organ Sharing said.

Imagine that brokers are earning big money as well. But without them I guess the "match" can't be made smoothly. So this business is actually flourishing, even though some people involved are getting caught. This kind of business in the black market flourishes because people with money cannot waut long enough in the transplant list. I can't really blame them at some point. If I can afford it, I would exhaust all means to extend my life. In the case of someone needing a kidney, pays in the black market for an organ!

Then there are still people in the world who are willing to sell their organs for the right price. The cycle continues!

Note added March 12, 2010: I have deleted all comments that advertise the intent of selling their kidneys. The purpose of this blog post is to inform on the existence of kidney selling and brokerage in the black market and not to become as a venue for such activities. Thank you for your understanding.