Woodruff writes: The opportunity of saving a life by pulling someone out of a fire, or rescuing them from drowning, is comparable to the situation of the kidney donor, with just the difference that the kidney donor has a little longer to make his mind up…If I decide that I would like to donate one of my kidneys and run the risk of the procedure and the risk that I might subsequently have kidney failure, then it seems that this is a matter for me. Like all other risks that I choose to run…these are matters of personal choice (Shelton 94)
There is a sad statement of fact which otherwise alters the idea of organs received based on their merit. Nearly a third of the people currently on the waiting list for organ transplants are classified as "inactive," meaning that even if an organ becomes available, the person will not receive the organ (Stein)
Currently, when a person dies from injuries or disease and they are still in possession of viable organs, it has become common practice to ask the next of kin whether or not the organs may be donated, even if the decease never made plans for donation before their demise (Kahn). This has caused some concern because the organs must be harvested soon after death when the loved ones are just beginning to grieve (Wolman 116)
Utilitarian theories are based on consequences and cost benefit analysis of actions. While relativistic theories postulate that moral decisions are situational, two individuals or two cultures can have a different approach to same moral issue and both can be right (Caples, Hanna & Phelps, 2008)
It considers conduct with reference to the right and wrong, good and evil, the basis of moral obligation, the nature of duty, conscience, freedom; and the problems of egoism, altruism, social service and development in the light of the highest ideals."(Dresser, 1925)
"The idea of informed consent has its origins in law, ethics, and all healthcare disciplines, both ancient and modern, whereby a process must take place so that care rendered is a mutually agreed upon service between the provider and the patient."(Lachman, 2006, p
For example, it will render him depressed or low in morale. Informed consent and patient authorisation will be costly to society if, for example, the patient suffers from a contagious disease such as tuberculosis (McConnell, 2000)
Commitment, cooperation and self-monitoring on the patients part will be attained. In serious patients, commitment to a lifestyle that can prolong their life will add value to their treatment plan (Wear, 1998)
First Minister Alex Salmond and his deputy, Nicola Sturgeon, expressed the same stand. Their position would enhance that of Sir Liam Donaldson who considered organ shortage in Britain so critical as to warrant a change of system (Brophy 2007)
Audit reports of British hospital intensive care units the previous year revealed that 49% of the relatives of deceased patients, whose organs could have been used, denied permission (Transplant News). Public Reaction to Ruling Records say there are more than 8,000 patients waiting for a transplant in the UK (Doughty 2008)
The NHS observed that kidney failure was three times likelier among Black people who, therefore, stood in greatest need for kidney transplants (Evening Chronicle). The Organ Donation Task Force doubled the number of its coordinators in local hospitals to cope with the demand for more donations (Duffy 2008)
Transplanted skin grafts and bones have helped victims of severe burns and orthopedic surgery patients (Evening Chronicle). The first successful transplant was a cornea in 1905 and the oldest recipient on record in the UK was an 81-year-old kidney patient (Evening Chronicle 2003)
The overall problem is that the British are not comfortable discussing death (University of Bath). A recent BMA survey showed that around 800 Scots needed donor organs and many die without obtaining these organs (Hutcheon 2007)
). Developing Tolerance to Transplants Progress in transplant immunology in the past half of a century has been slower than expected (Lechler et al
The Members of Parliament failed to replace the current law in 2006 but support for a change had been gathering force since then. No to a Change in the Current System British Health Minister Rosie Winterton rejected the call to replace the current opting-in system in organ donation with opting out (Transplant News 2004)
Favoring Opt-Out Dr. John Troyer of the Centre for Death & Society believed that the system of presumed consent would be the best way of addressing the increasing demand for organ transplants (University of Bath 2008)
Donor organ supply and transplantations numbers are different worldwide; however there is a general lack of dead donors. This shortage has brought about many models that seek to raise the number of donors; however there have been procedures that are definitely not morally or legally acceptable (Rudge, Matesanz, Delmonico & Chapman, 2012)
through a written statement or signing an organ donor card. Other nations support the use of a mix of both personal consent/authorization and proxy consent which is the alternative incase the individual is not able to make the choice (Schicktanz, 2010)
Organ donations from the living are the main supply for organ transplantation globally and are the main point of contention of the practice (Rudge, Matesanz, Delmonico & Chapman, 2012). There is also the risk of non-disclosure where the probable donor may not fully disclose significant medical information, such as the transplanted organ being infected with some disease that could jeopardize the success of the transplant or the general well being of the recipient (Fadare, 2010)
It is this problem that has led to the start of heated public arguments concerning probable executive and regulatory remedial measure to cater for organ donation. All types of organ donations initiate unique moral issues (Buchler, 2012)