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Non-heart beating organ donation: old procurement strategy--new ethical problems
1Intensive Care, The General Infirmary at Leeds, Great George Street, Leeds LS1 3EX, UK. dom@wybells.freeserve.co.uk
Journal of Medical Ethics
|June 11, 2003
Summary
Non-heart beating organ donation (NHBOD) addresses organ shortages but raises ethical and legal concerns. Ensuring public trust requires clear, defensible guidelines for this vital transplantation approach.
Area of Science:
- Transplantation Medicine
- Bioethics
- Medical Law
Background:
- Widening gap between organ supply and demand for transplantation.
- Non-heart beating organ donation (NHBOD) is being re-established due to necessity.
- Concerns exist regarding NHBOD's impact on professional and public confidence in transplantation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the clinical, ethical, and legal issues surrounding NHBOD.
- To explore NHBOD within the context of strategies to increase organ donor numbers.
- To assess the feasibility of implementing NHBOD initiatives.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing accounts on NHBOD practices.
- Analysis of clinical, ethical, and legal challenges associated with NHBOD.
- Examination of public and professional confidence factors.
Main Results:
- NHBOD presents a potential solution to organ shortages when brain stem death (BSD) does not occur.
- Existing literature highlights concerns that may undermine confidence in transplantation.
- Successful implementation hinges on establishing explicit, ethically and legally defensible guidelines.
Conclusions:
- NHBOD is a necessary but complex approach to organ transplantation.
- Addressing ethical and legal concerns is crucial for public and professional acceptance.
- Clear guidelines are essential to ensure the defensibility and trustworthiness of NHBOD practices.