Philosophical and ethical issues in human organ transplantation

Organ transplantation has moved over 30 years from being experimental and heroic to being the treatment of choice in many terminal diseases of vital organs, such as biliary atresis, which would require a liver transplant, or pulmonary fibrosis, which would require a heart/lung transplant. There are now many more older and chronically sick people than ever before (Hudak et al, 1998). Transplantation offers hope for an improved quality of life. All patients have a right to care, although there remains a dichotomy between the holistic model of care and the medical model. The UKCC's (1992) Code of Professional Conduct informs practice, and clauses 1 and 5 are of particular importance in relation to this client group. This article looks at some of the problems patients may develop pre- and post-transplant and the support required to overcome or minimize these problems. Implications for healthcare staff are considered.