S. (Levine, 2008).
One of the paradoxes of modern medical science and technology is the blurring of the line between life and death, something that was never an issue before modern medicine (Griniezakis, 2007; Levine, 2008). That was the case even before the most recent revelations in 2009 that many patients previously diagnosed as being in long-term persistent vegetative states actually remained conscious throughout their ordeal and that several patients considered to be brain dead according to accepted criteria eventually recovered consciousness (Halpern, Raz, Kohn, et al., 2010). The obvious concern is that inaccurate diagnoses of persistent vegetative states and the premature declaration of death could result in the procurement of organs for transplant from patients who could still recover from their medical predicament. That issue, unlike religious objections to scientific research remains a valid bioethics concern.
The other principal ethical issue in relation to organ transplantation is in connection with the sale of transplant organs. In countries where such sales have been permitted by law, trends have emerged whereby the poor have been exploited in this manner for the benefit of the wealthy (Levine, 2008). On the other hand, there is good reason to believe that the legalized sale of organs for transplantation could be regulated and controlled in ways that allowed society the benefit of increased transplant organ availability without exploiting or jeopardizing the health of the poor (Halpern, Raz, Kohn, et al., 2010).
Conclusion
Organ transplantation has saved and extended the lives of many thousands of patients since its introduction as a viable medical procedure during the second half of the 20th century. Ethical controversies still exist in several specific areas with very different resolutions apparent in different societies. In the U.S., the primary source of organs for transplantation continues to be voluntary enrolment in organ donation programs that procure organs from deceased...
On one hand, unrestricted sales of this nature pose obvious ethical issues of exploitation of the poor. On the other hand, there is no reason that such sales could not be permitted and regulated more appropriately. However, the solution with the greatest potential is not associated with any legitimate ethical grounds for objection, especially in a nation where religious values and matters of secular law are supposed to be separate. Until autogenetic implantation through the development of stem cell applications can be perfected, there is good reason to believe that transplant organ sales should be permitted subject to appropriately strict regulation and control by both governmental and medical authorities.
Ultimately, organ transplantation illustrates some of the ways that societal values and moral distinctions intersect with modern science and technology. It remains to be seen how the current issues arising in connection with contemporary values will dictate the future of organ transplantation issues in the U.S.
References
Griniezakis AM. "Legal and ethical issues associated with brain death." Issues in Law & Medicine (September 22, 2007).
Harrison TR, Morgan, SE, and Di Corcia MJ. "Effects of information, education, and communication training about organ donation for gatekeepers: clerks at the Department of Motor Vehicles and organ donor registries" Progress in Transplantation (December 1, 2008).
Halpern SD, Raz a, Kohn R, Rey M. Asch DA, and Reese P. "Regulated Payments for Living Kidney Donation: An Empirical Assessment of the Ethical Concerns"
Annals of Internal Medicine (March 16, 2010).
Levine C. (2008). Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Bioethical Issues. 12th Ed. Dubuque
Iowa: McGraw Hill.
Shah V and Bhosale G. "Organ donor problems and their management" Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine (January 1, 2006).
