What are the ethical issues involved in organ transplant?

Major ethical concerns about organ donation by living related donors focus on the possibility of undue influence and emotional pressure and coercion. By contrast, the living unrelated donor lacks genetic ties to the recipient. Living unrelated donors respond to a need that may come to their attention in various ways.

Which organ transplantation is greatest in demand?

The two organs that are needed most frequently are kidneys and livers. About 83 percent of the people on the national transplant waiting list are waiting for kidney transplants and about 12 percent are waiting for liver transplants according to the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

Why is organ donation ethical?

Underlying ethical principles considered were: (1) acts that promote the opportunity to donate viable organs respect the patient’s potential interest in becoming an organ donor; (2) the legitimacy of surrogate decision making for critically ill patients whose wishes are unknown extends to decisions regarding organ …

How to avoid ethical problems with organ transplantation?

One way to avoid the ethical problems associated with the shortage of transplantable organs is to increase the number of donor organs. However, fears abound that policies to maximize organ donations could go too far – leading to organ farming or premature declarations of death in order to harvest organs.

What do you need to know about organ transplants?

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. An organ is a mass of specialized cells and tissues that work together to perform a function in the body.

What kind of jobs are there in bioethics?

Bioethicists will use their role as a policy advisor and analyst to help legislators or other government officials draw up new policies, procedures, guidelines, and regulations, that recognize the value of new treatments and the ethical nature of their utilization.

What is the waiting list for an organ transplant?

waiting pool for an organ from a cadaver by their transplant center. The United Network for Organ Sharing ( UNOS ) maintains the list for the national waiting pool. When donor organs become available after a person dies an organ procurement organization ( OPO ) takes the organs into custody. The OPO then matches the donor