ABSTRACT
Before arguing that a regulated current market in human transplant kidneys is morally required by either respect for personal autonomy or concern for human well-being, the author makes three important points. First, in keeping with his general approach the pro-regulation argument that the author develops is a conditional argument directed at persons who hold personal autonomy or human well-being to be of great moral value. Second, this pro-regulation argument is not only applicable to a current market in human transplant kidneys, but also to any market in which persons sell their body parts or their labour. Third, since respect for personal autonomy is the guiding light of modern medical ethics a pro-regulation argument based on autonomy will be located firmly in the mainstream of contemporary bioethics. However, the fact that the regulation of a current market in human transplant kidneys might be morally required by respect for autonomy does not show that such a market is morally justified.
