Distributive Justice and Organ Transplants Essay - 1181 Words

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†¦show more content†¦Spicer (2008) links distributive justice and resource allocation by proposing four possible approaches to establish divergent criteria, they are: democratic means, age based, personal responsibility based, and c ost utility. The Allocation of Scarce Resources Innovative advances in the practice of medicine have increased the life span of the average American. This along with the growing population in the United States and has created a shortfall in the number of organs available for transplant today. The current system of allocation used to obtain organs for transplant faces difficulty because of two primary reasons according to Moon (2002). The two perceptions that stop potential organs donors are that the allocation criteria is unfair and favors certain members of society and/or that organs may be allocated to someone who has destroyed their organs by misuse (Moon, 2002). Many individuals decline to donate organs because anyone requiring an organ transplant is placed on a waiting list and it is possible that individuals who have destroyed their organs by their own actions or convicted criminals could receive donated organs before someone whose organs are failing through no fault of their own and positively contribute to society. Wh en a celebrity or wealthy individual requires a transplant they are often viewed as jumping the waitlist butShow MoreRelatedDetermining Who Should Receive An Organ Transplant Can1666 Words   |  7 PagesDetermining who should receive an organ transplant can be a tricky and difficult task. According to the UNOS, the company that maintains the organ transplant list, there are various factors that are under consideration when an organ is available. Things like blood type, tissue type, medical urgency, and proximity to the donor are all taken into consideration; factors like age, income, or racial/ethnic background are not even taken into consideration. Furthermore, the transplant list is more like a pool thanRead MoreThe Organ Of Organ Transplantation1426 Words   |  6 Pagessignificant issues concerning organ transplantation revolves around the just and fair distribution of organs. Due to the assorted and occasionally conflicting opinions of what constitutes as ‘fair’ , in concurrence with a relative shortage of donated organs, many social, legal and ethical contentions have arisen. This shortage is portrayed by statistics shown on the NHS organ donation page, where approximately 10,000 people are on the waiting list for a solid organ transplant and approximately 1,000 peopleRead MoreEssay about Organ Transplantation and Ethical Considerations2773 Words   |  12 PagesOrgan Transplantation and Ethical Considerations In February 2003, 17-year-old Jesica Santillan received a heart-lung transplant at Duke University Hospital that went badly awry because, by mistake, doctors used donor organs from a patient with a different blood type. The botched operation and subsequent unsuccessful retransplant opened a discussion in the media, in internet chat rooms, and in ethicists circles regarding how we, in the United States, allocate the scarce commodity of organsRead MoreJohn Q: an Ethical Analys and Review3010 Words   |  13 Pagesprovides a model for the analysis and demonstration of ethical principles of distributive justice as they pertain to healthcare and, more specifically, organ allocation in the face of scarcity. The film portrays the shortcomings of a managed care system as well as the pitfalls of a libertarian approach to allocation. Here discussed are the ethical approaches of Eglitarianism, Prioritarianisn, Utilitarianism, and Libertarianism to organ allocation as they pertain to the film a s well as the situational changeRead MoreThe Transplantation Of Tissue By Dr. Harold Neuhof928 Words   |  4 PagesI am a firm believer in organ donation, and as a matter of fact I’m a card carrying organ donor. It is my personal belief that every deceased or brain dead person that has the potential to save a life though donating an organ should have the opportunity. After reading this weeks assigned reading my belief in the organ donation process has grown even stronger. Early examples of tissue transplants can be dated back to 2500CE by Hundu text (Howard, Cornell, and Cochran, 2012). Fast forward a coupleRead MoreOrgan And Organ Of Organ Transplantation2652 Words   |  11 Pagescentury, organ transplantation provides a way of giving the gift of life to patients with terminal failure of vital organs. Organ transplantation requires the participation of both fellow human beings and of society by donating organs from deceased or living individuals. The ever increasing rate of organ failure and the inadequate supply of organs have created a significant gap between organ supply and organ demand. This gap has resulted in extremely lengthy waiting times to receive an organ as wellRead MoreEssay on Organ Donation1638 Words   |  7 Pagescurrent process of procuring organs for transplantation. It will also explore technology on the horizon and alternates to donation. The waiting list for transplant surgery far exceeds the current supply. Black Market organ trade in this, as well in foreign countries is alive and well. Donation is not able to keep up with demand. We have to take measures to ensure those in the most need are taken care of. We already allow people to sell eggs, sperm and blood why not other organs? I will attempt to showRead MoreHealthcare Business: The Legality of Introducing a New Structure for Organ Donation2843 Words   |  11 Pagesï » ¿Title of paper: Healthcare Business Legality Introducing a new structure for organ donation Students name: Course name and number: Instructors name: Date submitted: January 23rd, 2012 Introduction The legal and ethical business practices that are maintained to be the standardized rules in primary industries are also critical for the successful, legal and ethical execution in the healthcare industry so that the patients can choose the right healthcare provider and structure. To furtherRead MoreWaiting Periods For Organ Donation2493 Words   |  10 PagesWaiting periods for organ donation are mostly due to organ shortage. There are not many people donating organs to healthcare facilities and the once that do probably have defective organs that cannot be used by other people (Cameron, 2013). Organs obtained from cadavers are also mostly defective and therefore are not suitable for use by other people. According to research, organ waiting periods for organ donation are increasing every year. As the prevalence of certain diseases increase, many patientsRead MoreOrgan Transplantation : Medical Advancements1104 Words   |  5 PagesDanica Smith Final Paper Outline Organ Transplantation Due to the increase in medical technology over the years, medical advancements, such as organ transplants, have grown in commonality. This has increased the number of patient who needs such care. The problem with organ transplants arises from the debate on the ethical way to distribute organs and how to combat the issue of a lack of organ donors. An ethical approach to solving these issues is to develop a system of equal access that relies