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Overview of Ethical Issues of Organ Transplant

This document discusses the ethical issues surrounding organ transplantation. It provides a brief history of organ transplantation and discusses the key principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and informed consent. It then outlines some of the main ethical issues regarding organ donors, recipients, allocation of limited resources, procurement of organs, and informed consent. Some specific discussion points and questions are also presented.

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276 views16 pages

Overview of Ethical Issues of Organ Transplant

This document discusses the ethical issues surrounding organ transplantation. It provides a brief history of organ transplantation and discusses the key principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and informed consent. It then outlines some of the main ethical issues regarding organ donors, recipients, allocation of limited resources, procurement of organs, and informed consent. Some specific discussion points and questions are also presented.

Uploaded by

Omar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Overview of ethical issues of

organs transplantation
Muhsin Aboud
PI DMRET
Introduction
• An organ transplant is a surgical operation
where a failing or damaged organ in the human
body is removed and replaced with a new one.
• The term “organ transplant” typically refers to
transplants of the solid organs: heart, lungs,
kidneys, liver, pancreas and intestines.
• Animal and artificial organs may also serve as
transplantable organs.
Introduction-History
• • 1954 living relating kidney transplant( Dr.
Joseph Murray and Dr. David Hume Boston)
• • 1962 cadaveric kidney transplant by (Dr. Joseph
Murray and Dr. David Hume Boston)
• • 1963 lung transplant (Dr. James Hardy
Mississippi)
• • 1967 liver transplant( Dr. Thomas Starzl
Colorado) and heart transplant(Dr. Christiaan
Barnard South Africa)
• • 1981 heart/lung transplant(Dr. Norman
Shumway California)
Introduction
• Although the idea of organ transplantation is an
old one, successful transplantation did not occur
until the Twentieth Century.
• Today the transplantation of many organs
between well-matched human beings is quite
successful, with the majority of recipients living
five or more years.
• With current advances, even a human head
transplant (perhaps better referred to as a body
transplant) may be possible.
Introduction
• Since many people can benefit greatly from
organ and tissue transplants, the demand
usually exceeds the supply.
• The costs related to some organ transplants
are very high as well.
• From the standpoint of deontological ethics,
the debate over the definitions of life, death,
human, and body is ongoing.
Introduction
• The use of cloning to produce organs with an
identical genotype to the recipient has issues
all its own. Cloning is still a controversial topic
• Therefore, many questions are raised today
regarding how best to procure more organs,
how to fairly distribute limited resources, and
whether all transplants should be covered by
public funds
Introduction
• The ethical and legal issues related to organ and
tissue procurement and transplantation are often
discussed in light of such principles as;
1) Autonomy,
2)Benevolence,
3) Non-maleficence,
4)Free and informed consent,
5) Respecting the dignity, integrity and equality of
human beings, fairness, and the common good.
Discussion points
Ethical Issues Regarding:
1) The Donor
2) The Recipient
3) Allocation of Limited Resources
4) Procurement of Organs and Tissues
5) Informed consent
6) Some Cases and Questions For Discussion
Ethical Issues Regarding the Donor
1) From the Deceased
2) From Living Persons (Adults, related, non-
related, Mentally Disabled, Minors)
3) From Anencephalic Infants
4) From Human Fetuses
Ethical Issues Regarding the Recipient
Should individuals who have abused their
bodies through smoking, drinking, or diet
receive new organs, or should organs only be
given to those whose organs were damaged by
illness?
The recipients for the scarce organs are selected
justly
Ethical Issues Regarding Allocation of
Limited Resources
1) Criteria for Selection
Allocation rules, defined by appropriately constituted
committees, should be equitable, externally justified, and
transparent

2) Using Animals
3) Artificial Substitutes for Tissues and Organs
4) High Costs, Universality and Justice
5) Distributive justice – How to fairly divide resources –
6) Equal access –
7) Maximum benefit
Ethical Issues Regarding Procurement
of Organs and Tissues
1) Buying and Selling Human Organs and The
vicious cycle – Needs money , has organ. - Has
money , needs organ Tissues;
2) Media Publicity
3) Types of Consent (Voluntary or Expressed,
Family, Presumed, Required Request, Routine
Inquiry)
4) Fears, Confusion and the Need for Education
Informed Consent
• The laws of different countries allow potential
donors to permit or refuse donation, or give this
choice to relatives
• Opt in (only those who have given explicit
consent are donors)
• Opt out " (anyone who has not refused is a
donor).
• consent required by law
• deceased person objected
• Minors and legally incompetent people
Some Questions For Discussion
1) Is the body a commodity? Can it be bought?
2) How should decisions be made on distributing scarce
organs?
3) When several healthy organs are available, should they all
go to one person or should several needy people each receive
just one?
4)Should a person in whom a transplant has failed be given a
second organ, or should a different person have a first
chance?
5)Should individuals who have abused their bodies through
smoking, drinking, or diet receive new organs, or should
organs only be given to those whose organs were damaged by
illness?
Some Questions For Discussion
6) Is it appropriate to spend money, time, and
energy transplanting hands and other
appendages that are not essential to life?
7) Who can "donate" the organs of individuals
who are unable to give consent?
8) Is it possible to prevent coercion of donors?
9) When should the courts get involved in organ
donation decisions?
• The questions go on and on.
"Sometimes our light goes out but is blown
again into flame by an encounter with another
human being. Each of us owes the deepest
thanks to those who have rekindled this inner
light." – Albert Schweitzer

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