These Days, If It Costs An Arm and a Leg, It's a Bargain

Black market doctors across Central and South America are lamenting the declining prices of body parts. "It used to be when you said something cost an arm and a leg, it meant an arm and a leg were worth something," said Estevao Plytas, who runs a harvesting ring in the back alleys of Buenos Aires. "The market is essentially gutted."

Industry observers blame the falling prices for unused internal organs, faces, fingertips and eyeballs on increased death rates and generally poorer health of eligible street children donors in poor countries, and better preventive health measures in rich countries. Demand for liver transplant has dropped significantly with a decrease in alcoholism across Europe, according to Jaime Geragas, an unlicensed physician who runs a health spa somewhere in Peru. "Limbs are also in low demand," continued Geragas. "I have a warehouse full of arms, but this month our arms shipments are practically zero."

Some analysts also blame US trade protectionism. Chelation centers in Juarez, Mexico, are facing increased competition from chelation centers in the US, according to an August 2004 report from the Mexican Ministry of Health. Although chelation remains illegal in the United States, the US centers are nonetheless supported by small business loan programs and developing industry subsidies. The Ministry of Health report recommended that local operations increase marketing efforts in coordination with local tourist boards.

The US epidemics of obesity and teen sexual activity have spurred growth in other areas of the black market, however. Second-quarter figures show strong growth in shipments of banned diet pill amphetamines, exotic foods such as endangered species and newborn humans, and rates of re-virginification surgery, across the developing world.