Ethical Considerations of Organ Conscription Policies Explained
School
University of Nairobi**We aren't endorsed by this school
Course
BUSINESS A D33
Subject
Sociology
Date
Dec 12, 2024
Pages
5
Uploaded by GeneralTank3151
Running head: ORGAN CONSCRIPTION 1Organ ConscriptionStudent nameInstitution Affiliation
ORGAN CONSCRIPTION 2Articulate the moral concerns surrounding a policy of organ conscription.Organ transplantation has continuously raised some ethical questions whereby there are claims by different people about what happens in their bodies before and after they are dead. Organ conscription mainly involves the process whereby body organs are derived from the dead or living and transplanted to a living being. Mainly, the dead are the biggest sources of organs for transplant. However, there are various ethical questions mainly by the living donation about the risk they have to suffer for their organs to be retrieved. Some of the risks involved during organ transplant include the risk of disease, death or discomfort caused by infection or trauma. Such risks are usually negligible. Notably, the risk of death may not seem to be enormous. It is worth noting that the main question involves the conditions under which the process of organ transplant may be done without the other individual getting some therapeutic benefit. Most of thecompetent individuals would agree that valid consent is required for morally permissible retrieval of their organs (Wilkinson, 2016). Unfortunately, the consent required may not be sufficient. Also, living donor transplantations may raise some queries regarding the validity of consent. Further, people may raise questions about whether organs may be retrieved from healthy but non-competent individuals such as children.Articulate questions about the fairness and justness of organ conscription policyOne of the most significant questions in organ transcription is the issue of fairness. It is important to note that all the practices and policies in organ conscription aim at ensuring that there is sufficient supply of organs. However, many questions are surrounding the fair distribution of both burdens and benefits. In particular, special attention is paid to disadvantaged groups (Fisher, 2011). Also, there is the aspect of reciprocity in the fairness and justness of organ
ORGAN CONSCRIPTION 3conscription policy which involves the willingness to donate and also the willingness to receive organs.Another question about the fairness of the policy revolves around the supply of transplantable organs to the disadvantaged groups. Particularly, this includes the socioeconomically disadvantaged groups and ethnic minorities who are often overlooked in such circumstances. Additionally, questions regarding the fairness of proposals in establishing a regulated market in the donation framework have also risen and debated upon by the policymakers (Dalal, 2015). There are controversies about both non-financial and financial incentives in organ donation framework. In such cases, the main issue is about the people to benefit and those burdened by such policies. Most of the people are worried that the distributional patterns and rules are not fair.Explain the relevance and significance of the concept of consent as it pertains to organ donation.The concept of consent is highly important during organ donation because interference ofautonomous will of a dead person is perceived as a violation of the law. As such it is morally wrong for mistaken non-removal or mistaken removal of organs from an individual without their will or prior knowledge. It is viewed as a violation of their autonomy. Therefore having either presumed or express consent helps in averting issues that may arise in organ donation. Some of these issues may include stigma to organ donors and their families, complications from infections and also poor patient-doctor relationships. Consent is also beneficial since it helps increase the number of organ donors (Prabhu, 2018). Mainly, it is because they have prior knowledge of the organ donation process and any consequences they may suffer afterward. Evaluate alternative policies for increasing available donor organs.
ORGAN CONSCRIPTION 4It is worth noting that the organ shortage is deemed to increase soon. As such, it is crucialto expand the donor pool using a method that aligns with altruistic and voluntary ethos. One alternative policy approach is using the two-step process of consenting. This policy involves out of hospital cardiac deaths through the application of consent to preserve the organs then getting aconsent to donate later in the hospital. Through this approach, it would be easier to expand the number of potential donors. Importantly, this approach also adheres strictly to the norms that govern cadaver organ donation and should be highly considered (Caplan,2016).
ORGAN CONSCRIPTION 5ReferencesCaplan A. L. (2016). Finding a solution to the organ shortage. CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne, 188(16), 1182–1183. Advance online publication. doi:10.1503/cmaj.151260Dalal A. R. (2015). Philosophy of organ donation: Review of ethical facets. World journal of transplantation, 5(2), 44–51. doi:10.5500/wjt.v5.i2.44Fisher, D. (2011). Rethinking the Fairness of Organ Transplants. Retrieved from https://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/rethinking-the-fairness-of-organ-transplantsPrabhu, P. K. (2018). Is presumed consent an ethically acceptable way of obtaining organs for transplant? Journal of the Intensive Care Society, 20(2), 92-97. Doi: 10.1177/1751143718777171Wilkinson, M. (2016). The Donation of Human Organs (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). Retrieved from https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/organ-donation/#Aca