In a world where life expectancy has increased tremendously over the last century due to new medical technologies and procedures, we find humanity increasingly pushing the limits on what what it can do to prevent loss of life where possible. An example is the sector of organ donation and transplantation. However, unlike many other technologies or procedures that can be built, manufactured, or learned, organ transplantation requires something we cannot yet create: an organ itself. As our increasing lifespans cause more and more people to need a replacement organ when theirs begins to fail, demand has far outstripped supply, and the future only looks to get worse. “Between 1988 and 2006 the number of transplants doubled, but the number of patients waiting for an organ grew six times more.” (Orentlicher, 2009) Clearly our need for organs is growing much faster than what is available. So, in an attempt to meet demand, proposals have emerged that have sparked much debate: whether compensation should be given for the donation. By looking at the issue through the lens of utilitarianism and virtue ethics, we can find a way to help the greatest number of people while allowing both givers and recipients to maintain the dignity of their personalities. In this article I will argue that donating one's organs for compensation is indeed ethical as long as that exchange is carefully regulated. The case study of a woman, Ruth Sparrow, after an expensive surgery in Florida in 1997 exemplifies the issue of compensatory organs. After the surgery he offered the hospital one of his functioning kidneys in exchange for paying for the surgery. However, the hospital rejected her. Instead he then placed an ad at the bottom... center of the paper... from Wired.com Goyal, M., Mehta, R., & et al, (2002). Economic and health consequences of selling a kidney in India. Journal of the American Medical AssociationHusted, J. H., & Husted, G. (2008). Ethical decision making in nursing and healthcare: the symphonic approach. (4th ed.). NY: Springer Publishing Company.Orentlicher, D. (n.d.). Presumed consent to organ donation: Rise and decline in the United States. In Rutgers Law Review. Organ Sales: Paying to Live. In (2011). The Economist.Perry, D. L. (2009). Should violent criminals receive organ transplants? Markkula Center for Applied Ethics Prisoner's organ donation proposal troubling. (2007). American Medical NewsUnited States statement on prison status and organ allocation. (2002). United Network for Organ Sharing Zargooshi, J. R. (2001). Quality of life of Iranian kidney “donors”. Journal of Urology, 166.