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Transforming objectivity to promote equity in transplant candidate selection
1Department of History, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
Theoretical Medicine
|March 1, 1996
Summary
Achieving equity in organ transplantation requires examining how values and norms impact candidate selection. Transformative criticism can enhance objectivity, ensuring fairer selection criteria and equitable outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Medical Ethics
- Philosophy of Science
- Transplantation Medicine
Background:
- Values and norms can inequitably influence organ transplantation, particularly in candidate selection.
- Existing objectivity concepts may not fully address equity concerns in medical decision-making.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore attainable objectivity in organ transplant candidate selection.
- To determine how to achieve equitable selection processes.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing a revised concept of objectivity from philosophy of science (Longino).
- Applying empirical studies on candidate selection.
- Implementing transformative criticism to analyze and revise selection criteria.
Main Results:
- Transformative criticism allows articulation and challenge of underlying commitments in selection.
- It enables examination and justification of the link between commitments and selection criteria.
- Increased objectivity through this process is shown to enhance equity.
Conclusions:
- A richer concept of objectivity, incorporating transformative criticism, is crucial for equitable organ transplantation.
- Challenging and revising normative commitments improves fairness in candidate selection.
- This approach offers a pathway to more just organ allocation systems.