Suppose selling a part of yourself, setting a market price on it—leaving you to be permanently tainted—no longer seen as a dignified being. Kant condemns organ sales for this exact reason, since it violates his principle of not abusing people, rather treating them with dignity and respect as a human being. He strongly believes that a human’s dignity is essentially priceless, we’re too valuable to even place a numerical value over. By resorting to organ sales, people are degrading their own worth since they’re defining exactly how much value they have, disrespecting their own selves. This goes against the duty of respecting “bodily integrity”, in which people must maintain their own beings as a sacred entity, free from any outside interference (318). By legalizing organ sales, people are then stripping away a part of them, a substantial part which makes them, well, them. Kant clearly shows his disapproval by explaining how simply “[giving] away or [selling] a tooth so that it can be implanted in the jawbone of another person… belongs to partial self-murder” (318). Once people give away a portion of themselves to someone else, they convey to others that their entity is separable, something that can be owned. That section of yourself is no longer yours, the transaction is irreversible. It’s like implying that the other person is more worthy of having that part of you more than yourself, along with valuing the money given to you—rather than keeping your sacred body for yourself, intact. Though it may seem as a fair exchangement, the main reason the seller is even willing to go through with it is for the money, serving as a substantial influence—corrupting the person’s true consent.

Okwe, in Dirty Pretty Things, serves as the embodiment of a Kantian, a rational being who basically lives as if his actions were to be made into universal laws. He proceeds to meddle with his supervisor’s corrupted antics after discovering a fresh, human heart in the hotel facility. Though fully aware of how beneficial it’d be for him to contribute to his boss’ dirty deeds, he stands his ground and chooses the righteous route. Despite his morals, he eventually violates Kant’s principles and succumbs to his boss and offers to do the surgery for his close friend, only for him to perform it on his supervisor. While he does use his boss as a means to acquire money and passports, he does make sure his supervisor is taken care of, during and after the procedure. 

As for Juan, the manager of the hotel, he symbolizes a utilitarian, since his main goal as a hotel supervisor is to keep as many people happy. In doing so, he validates his organ transactions by claiming how everyone in return is happy, especially having saved a person in need of a transplant. Regardless of the possible immoral doings which occur in his building, all he cares about is the profit and happiness of his customers. 

From a utilitarian standpoint, it would be sensible to legalize organ sales, since basically everyone ends up being happy. As consequentialists, it would satisfy their principles, since it would more often provide the greatest happiness possible than not. In this circumstance, the seller would be content, after receiving money which he or she very much needed, then the receiver would also obtain more profit once it’s been sold, and another being would be satisfied knowing there’s an organ available to him or her. By legalizing organ sales, it would force the promotion of a sanitary and legitimate option for people in need. People are bound to sell their organs one way or another, might as well help protect them by making it accessible and less painful. However, this is assuming that the ideal results follow accordingly, since there’s always a possibility of the recipient’s body failing to accept the organ, and the eventual result of an exploitation of commodities by politicians and the wealthy. 

This topic is quite complicated since no matter what side you choose, complications are evident. However, people are bound to resort to organ sales regardless of the outcome. Personally, I believe everyone is entitled to their own choices, especially if it pertains to themselves. With that being said, legalizing organ sales would be the preferred outcome since it would help those in need to have a legitimate resource. Nonetheless, legalizing it can still promote exploitation as well, but this time by politicians and the wealthy, especially being in a capitalist country. 

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