Ethical Issues in Organ Donation

Some Ethical issues associated with having a commercial market in human body parts. “The ethical defence of organ donation hinges both on the benefit to all parties and the lack of harm, distress, or indignity caused to the dying and bereaved” (Raid & Nicholls 2000). The donors dies with their wish to donate organs being respected and their family gains comfort in the knowledge that their relative's death led to help for someone else. In addition the …

…pressure may coerce surrogate decision makers into choices not in agreement with the patient's wishes or interests. For example a financially desperate family, who is initially opposed to the idea of organ donation, may be coerced by a financial incentive because they are unable to pay for the funeral or hospital costs. (Sanders, Devney, Young & Raffin, 1992). Since a financial incentive system for organ donation demonstrates the potential for coercion and exploitation, it is therefore unethical.