The human body and organs prepared for donation are often objectified, making them a sort of "disputed terrain." This objectification silences the donor and his or her family, making the donor recipient and the organ transplant surgeons the stars of the show (Sharp, 2001). In the United States, the human body and donated organs are often viewed as goods or items bought and sold for medical purposes. Almost all parts of the human body can be seen in this way. Genetic materials associated with reproduction such as placenta, sperm and eggs can also be sold (Sharp, 2001). Organ transplant lists are very extensive, with a long list of requirements that the recipient donor must meet before they can even be placed on this list. Because some people can remain on this list for many years, there is a strong desire, or desperation, for a life-saving organ, for which individuals go through the black market to obtain.