Ethical Ethics Of Organ Donation

1074 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Ethical issues of organ donation

The Ethical Discussion of Donating Organs
Since the first successful organ transplant was performed, the life-changing procedure that has saved thousands of lives has become a much desired route for those in need of a new organ. The unfortunate scenario in most cases is that someone needs to die in order for another to live. With voluntary organ donors now growing in numbers upon their own death, there is still a high demand for organs that is not being met to the satisfaction of many patients who are on waiting lists. When the subject of human rights is discussed, one ethical question can be asked. Is volunteering to donate an organ by choice or for financial purposes unethical? Although it is a complicated question, donating an organ is not …show more content…

With over one hundred-twenty thousand patients in need of an organ transplant in the United States, the demand for organs is significant (About organ donations, 2013). People in countries all over the world are on waiting lists as well in hopes that someday a donor will come through for them. When a person wants something, a lot of the times it comes at a financial cost. The debate around the black market of organ sales is an ongoing battle. It is a topic that should be more seriously addressed since the market for organs already exists (Park, 2012). Reports of people flying to different countries and buying the organ they need are relevant and happening whether it is illegal or not. This is where the debate on the issue of organ sales can become problematic. It is not very fair for a wealthy person to be able to buy their way to health while a poor person …show more content…

Undoubtedly this is not an easy topic to discuss with simple solutions, but the success of transplants has grown over the years securing the safety of the patient in need and the donor themselves. If education continues to inform the public about being a donor and more volunteers come forward, the world would be one step closer to servicing the thousands that are on waiting lists. What can happen right away is for more people to volunteer to donate today if their life on this planet were to end abruptly. Until then, the debate on how to go about getting donations is

Show More
Related

  • Case Study Assignment: Opt Out Organ Donation Without Presumptions

    869 Words  | 2 Pages

    In his article “Opt-out organ donation without presumptions”, Ben Saunders is writing to defend an opt-out organ donation system in which cadaveric organs can be used except in the case that the deceased person has registered an objection and has opted-out of organ donation. Saunders provides many arguments to defend his stance and to support his conclusion. This paper will discuss the premises and elements of Saunders’ argument and how these premises support his conclusion. Furthermore, this paper will discuss the effectiveness of Saunders’ argument, including its strengths and weaknesses. Lastly, it will discuss how someone with an opposing view might respond to his article,

    Read More

  • Transplant Tourism Case Study

    1789 Words  | 4 Pages

    First of all, we can assess issues concerning the donor. For example, is it ever ethically acceptable to weaken one person’s body to benefit another? It has to be said that the practiced procedures are not conducted in the safest of ways, which can lead to complications for both donors and recipients (Delmonico 1416). There are also questions concerning of informed consent: involved donors are not always properly informed about the procedure and are certainly not always competent to the point of fully grasping the situation (Greenberg 240). Moral dilemmas arise for the organ recipient as well. For instance, how is it morally justifiable to seek and purchase organs in foreign countries? Is it morally acceptable to put oneself in a dangerous situation in order to receive a new organ? Some serious safety issues are neglected in such transactions since the procedures sometimes take place in unregulated clinics (Shimazono 959). There is also the concept of right to health involved in this case (Loriggio). Does someone’s right to health have more value than someone else’s? Does having more money than someone else put your rights above theirs? All of these questions have critical consequences when put into the context of transplant tourism and the foreign organ trade. The answers to these questions are all taken into account when answering if it is morally justifiable to purchase

    Read More

  • Anthony Gregory Analysis

    924 Words  | 2 Pages

    Gregory exposes and informs the audience that there are thousands of people that are dying and suffering as a result of not being able to receive transplants. Persuasively, Gregory is pushing and convincing readers to open their eyes and agree that there should be a legal market in organ selling and that people should be compensated for their donation. The author approaches counterarguments such as the market will not be fair and the differences between a liberalist’s and conservative’s views on organ selling. Liberal claims like “my body, my choice” and the Conservative view of favoring free markets are what is causing controversy to occur. Gregory suggests that these studies “show that this has become a matter of life and death” (p 452, para 12). Overall, Anthony Gregory makes great claims and is successful in defending them. He concludes with “Once again, humanitarianism is best served by the respect for civil liberty, and yet we are deprived both… just to maintain the pretense of state-enforced propriety” (p 453, para 15). In summary, people are deprived of both humanitarianism and civil liberty all because of the false claim of state-enforced behaviors considered to be appropriate or correct. As a result, lives are lost and human welfare is at

    Read More

  • The Ethics of Organ Donation

    1436 Words  | 3 Pages

    When viewing organ donation from a moral standpoint we come across many different views depending on the ethical theory. The controversy lies between what is the underlying value and what act is right or wrong. Deciding what is best for both parties and acting out of virtue and not selfishness is another debatable belief. Viewing Kant and Utilitarianism theories we can determine what they would have thought on organ donation. Although it seems judicious, there are professionals who seek the attention to be famous and the first to accomplish something. Although we are responsible for ourselves and our children, the motives of a professional can seem genuine when we are in desperate times which in fact are the opposite. When faced with a decision about our or our children’s life and well being we may be a little naïve. The decisions the patients who were essentially guinea pigs for the first transplants and organ donation saw no other options since they were dying anyways. Although these doctors saw this as an opportunity to be the first one to do this and be famous they also helped further our medical technology. The debate is if they did it with all good ethical reasoning. Of course they had to do it on someone and preying upon the sick and dying was their only choice. Therefore we are responsible for our own health but when it is compromised the decisions we make can also be compromised.

    Read More

  • Death's Waiting List by Sally Satel

    903 Words  | 2 Pages

    In her article, Satel criticizes the current methods governing organ sharing in the United States, and suggests that the government should encourage organ donation, whether it was by providing financial incentives or other compensatory means to the public. Furthermore, the author briefly suggests that the European “presumed consent” system for organ donation might remedy this shortage of organs if implicated in the States.

    Read More

  • Organ Donation Pros And Cons

    1107 Words  | 3 Pages

    The question arises about the ethics of making organ donation mandatory. From religions to freedom to fear, there are many pros and cons between the legality of the situation, but it all boils down to the freedom citizens have been given, which makes mandatory organ donation unethical. Lately, this has been an increasingly debated topic worldwide, as many people question the ethics of making organ donation mandatory. Organ transplantation is a surgical procedure, where a failing or damaged organ is replaced with a new one, either from a living or deceased donor. Any part of the body that performs a specialized function is classified as an organ. People can become organ donors by listing it on their driver’s license or signing a document with

    Read More

  • The Kidney Shortage Problem

    1392 Words  | 3 Pages

    Critics of kidney sales argue that impoverished people are more likely to sell their organs than the rich. (Matas, 2004) They claim that the practice of kidney sales is injustice since vulnerable vendors are targeted and that they may suffer from lengthy health problems after the operations which may eventually lead to the loss of jobs. (Bramstedt, 2010)

    Read More

  • Distributive Justice and Organ Transplants

    1173 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout history physicians have faced numerous ethical dilemmas and as medical knowledge and technology have increased so has the number of these dilemmas. Organ transplants are a subject that many individuals do not think about until they or a family member face the possibility of requiring one. Within clinical ethics the subject of organ transplants and the extent to which an individual should go to obtain one remains highly contentious. Should individuals be allowed to advertise or pay for organs? Society today allows those who can afford to pay for services the ability to obtain whatever they need or want while those who cannot afford to pay do without. By allowing individuals to shop for organs the medical profession’s ethical belief in equal medical care for every individual regardless of their ability to pay for the service is severely violated (Caplan, 2004).

    Read More

  • Essay On Organ Donation

    1209 Words  | 3 Pages

    The increasing shortage of organs for transplant is a major issue for transplant services worldwide. Internationally, the number of patients included on the waiting lists has been increasing while the number of donors and organs available for transplantation has either not increased or increased at a much slower rate. This gap is increasing over time and results in patients spending longer on waiting lists. These patients may deteriorate or even die while waiting for a transplant. Closing the gap requires either an increased supply of organs for transplant or a reduction in the need for transplantation, e.g. through prevention of ill health. Increasing the supply of organs requires a higher number of organ donors, as well as increased utilization of available organs.

    Read More

  • Summary Of Organ Sales Will Save Lives By Joanna Mackay

    323 Words  | 1 Pages

    “Organ Sales Will Save Lives” by Joanna MacKay be an essay that started with a scenario that there are people who died just to buy a kidney, also, thousands of people are dying to sell a kidney. The author stood on her point that governments should therefore stop banning the sale of human organs, she further suggests that it should be regulated. She clearly points that life should be saved and not wasted. Dialysis in no way could possibly heal or make the patient well. Aside from its harshness and being expensive, it could also add stress to the patient. Kidney transplant procedure is the safest way to give hope to this hopelessness. By the improved and reliable machines, transplants can be safe—keeping away from complications. Regulating

    Read More

  • What Is Organ Donation?

    1374 Words  | 3 Pages

    One of the utmost common myths about organ donation is that most individuals believe if they become registered donors, physicians will easily not try their best in saving their precious life and declare them dead early for the intent of obtaining one’s organs (Hyde, Wihardjo, & White, 2012). Generally, myths like this one that withheld most individuals to become donors themselves and as a result people in need of organ is taking a toll in meeting their demand. Another, dilemma is the majority of people don’t make proper arrangements on what to do with their organs once they expire (Forbes, 2007). In general, people forget to make the necessary arrangements once they passed away, and as a result, there is less donors to contribute their much needed organs. It is essential for the community to spread great awareness to address individuals with concerns that they may still have about organ donation. The effect of awareness addresses the public concerns which lead to an increasing number of organ donations that are desperately needed in the community. Even with the awareness individuals might still be reluctant, but being an organ donor is more than just donating organs, individuals can start with donating blood and tissue. Most people feel comfortable in this area, but studies have shown that individuals who donate blood and tissue are likely

    Read More

  • Organ Trade Essay

    797 Words  | 2 Pages

    Organ donations are crucial for people in emergency situations. For years organ donations have saved the lives of millions. The problem with people needing organs is that there are not enough organs to be supplied to everyone who needs it. There are many people who die because they are not able to obtain lifesaving organs. The need for organs exceeds the supply given. Thus, leading me to ask this essential question, “Should organ donation be a part of the market?” To support this question I have prepared three supportive claims, but since my answer is no my reasons will revolve around this argument. First, I will state why I do not agree with such a thing, and then I will support my claim by stating why it is so bad, and to end my paper I will state what place(s) legalizes trade.

    Read More

  • Financial Compensation for Organ Donation

    1323 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the United States, there are over one hundred thousand people on the waiting list to receive a life-saving organ donation, yet only one out of four will ever receive that precious gift (Statistics & Facts, n.d.). The demand for organ donation has consistently exceeded supply, and the gap between the number of recipients on the waiting list and the number of donors has increased by 110% in the last ten years (O'Reilly, 2009). As a result, some propose radical new ideas to meet these demands, including the selling of human organs. Financial compensation for organs, which is illegal in the United States, is considered repugnant to many. The solution to this ethical dilemma isn’t found in a wallet; there are other alternatives available to increase the number of donated organs which would be morally and ethically acceptable.

    Read More

  • Organ Donation Shortage

    2036 Words  | 5 Pages

    One of the most important and prevalent issues in healthcare discussed nowadays is the concern of the organ donation shortage. As the topic of organ donation shortages continues to be a growing problem, the government and many hospitals are also increasingly trying to find ways to improve the number of organ donations. In the United States alone, at least 6000 patients die each year while on waiting lists for new organs (Petersen & Lippert-Rasmussen, 2011). Although thousands of transplant candidates die from end-stage diseases of vital organs while waiting for a suitable organ, only a fraction of eligible organ donors actually donate. Hence, the stark discrepancy in transplantable organ supply and demand is one of the reasons that exacerbate this organ donation shortage (Parker, Winslade, & Paine, 2002). In the past, many people sought the supply of transplantable organs from cadaver donors. However, when many ethical issues arose about how to determine whether someone is truly dead by either cardiopulmonary or neurological conditions (Tong, 2007), many healthcare professionals and transplant candidates switched their focus on obtaining transplantable organs from living donors instead. As a result, in 2001, the number of living donors surpassed the number of cadaver donors for the first time (Tong, 2007).

    Read More

  • The Utilitarian Theory of Organ Donation

    1815 Words  | 4 Pages

    In this paper I will be using the normative theory of utilitarianism as the best defensible approach to increase organ donations. Utilitarianism is a theory that seeks to increase the greatest good for the greatest amount of people (Pense2007, 61). The utilitarian theory is the best approach because it maximizes adult organ donations (which are the greater good) so that the number of lives saved would increase along with the quality of life, and also saves money and time.

    Read More

More about Ethical Ethics Of Organ Donation

Open Document