John R. Hoffman is a Professor of Biology, public speaker and a scientist examining the recovery of the nervous system after injury. Since 2006 he has written several unpublished manuscripts and he is currently working on the first Nathaniel Smythe novel and short story collection. He spends his spare time with his family and running.

23 Human Transplant Concerns

Objectives

By the end of this lecture, the student will be able to:

  1. Describe how decisions are made about that recipient receives a scarce donor organ.
  2. Describe different incentives that might be used to increase the supply of donor organs.

Part 1 Distribution of Human organs for transplant

This lecture discusses different methods for determining who should receive a human organ transplant.The handout for this presentation can be downloaded and printed.

Part 2 Using incentives to increase availability of human organs.

This lecture examines issues surrounding the use of incentives to increase the availability of human organs for transplantation.The handout for this presentation can be downloaded and printed.

Readings:

Ethics of Organ Transplantation (2004). University of Minnesota Center for Bioethics.

Goyal et al., (2002). Economic and Health Consequences of selling a kidney in India. Journal American Medical Association. 288:1589-1593.

Optional Readings:

India: A pound of Flesh: Selling kidneys to survive. Frontline World: Rough Cut July 20, 2006.

Scheper-Hughes, N. (2000). The global traffic in human organs. Cultural Anthropology. 41(2): 191-224.

National Organ Transplant Act: Summary of Public Law 98-507, governing transplantation, transportation and sale of human organs in the United States.

United Network for Organ Sharing. “Living Organ Donation.”

United Network for Organ Sharing. “How the transplant system works: matching donors and recipients.”

Jayakrishnan, T., & Jeeja, M.C. (2003) Human organ sale: the Kerala story. Indian Journal of Medical Ethics. 11(3):

Assignment:Trafficking of Human Organs

Within your small group, discuss the following question: Currently many people die while waiting for an organ transplant. At the same time individuals in impoverished situations and their families could benefit from the financial incentives involved. If a person truly has the right to choose what happens to/with their body, should patients be able to purchase needed organs?

Previous – 22 – Alternatives to Human Organ Transplants

Next – 24 – Stem Cell Science