Indian Organ Trade ; From the Perspective of Weak Cultural Relativism

Abstract: The topic of this study was the Indian organ trade. It was assumed that the research literature on the Indian organ trade is dominated by a human rights discourse (HRD), which restricts analysis. The purpose was to examine whether thinking outside the HRD and taking a stance in weak cultural relativism could create a better understanding of the underlying causes of the Indian organ trade. Using discourse analysis the Indian reality was included and conceptualized as the "inequality poverty discourse" and discussed in relation to the HRD and to organ trade. The aim was to aid in creating a diverse basis for solving the problem of organ trade. Research questions posed was: How does the HRD influence research literature on the Indian organ trade? What other causes and explanations can a stance in weak cultural relativism unveil, and which alternative solutions can be contributed to the problem of organ trade? Using empirical evidence from Bangalore it was shown that the literature was restricted by the HRD. The study concluded that organ trade cannot be stopped by legislation based in human rights, but can be countered by scientific medical studies, by providing alternatives to organ sale and by strengthening the media.