Introduction
Living organ donation is a medical procedure in which a person gives a kidney, liver, bone marrow, or any other organ or tissue to someone who requires it to survive. This organ donation is distinct from deceased organ donation, in which organs are removed from a deceased person and donated to a person in need. The scarcity of transplantable organs has led to an increase in the prevalence of living organ donation.
A living organ donation is a challenging medical procedure that involves a donor’s medical background assessment and current health state to ensure that the donor is healthy enough to donate an organ safely. Physical inspections, lab tests, and psychological assessments are all part of the evaluation process to determine whether the donor is a great candidate for the surgery. To completely comprehend the risks and advantages of the donation process, one should receive thorough counseling.
Living organ donation has the potential to save lives and enhance the quality of life for individuals in need of transplants, despite having some dangers and potential downsides. These can include long-term concerns such as impaired renal function, infections, bleeding, and anesthesia-related problems. These advantages and disadvantages must be carefully considered before donating an organ. Debatable topics in public policy discussions involving living organ donation include the moral ramifications of donor incentives, ensuring equal access to transplantation, and defending the rights and safety of donors. Despite these arguments, living organ donation is a vital step in transplantation and can save many lives.
Technical Aspects
The surgical team must possess great competence and knowledge since living organ donation is challenging, as the procedure entails physically removing an organ from the donor and transplanting it into the recipient’s body. The donor is placed under general anesthesia throughout the procedure and must recuperate. According to Beier and Wöhlke (2019), some of the most donated human organs include liver lobes, kidneys, pancreas, and intestines. Beier and Wöhlke (2019) further suggest that in some cases, individuals give parts of their lungs. The success rate of living organ donation is higher than that of deceased organ donation (Beier & Wöhlke, 2019).
The likelihood of success is further increased as the living donors can undergo more thorough medical testing to ensure the organ is ideal for the receiver. However, significant dangers are associated with living organ donation, including the possibility of surgical complications and long-term effects on the donor’s health (Bollen et al., 2019). Therefore, the procedure must be made responsibly and ethically, with proper medical and psychological screening of prospective donors.
Public Policy Discussions
The use of living organ donation is a contentious issue in the medical community, as there are various public policy concerns against it. According to Mentzelopoulos et al. (2021), removing healthy organs from individuals appears unethical in cases where the patients cannot die from the diseases for which they are receiving treatment. This defense rests on the notion that the medical procedure in discussion should be used only when the recipient’s life is in danger.
Concerns have been expressed regarding the possible exploitation of donors, especially those from low-income families who might give organs in exchange for financial benefits. Depending on the nation and region, different regulations apply to living organ donation to stop the establishment of black markets (Mentzelopoulos et al., 2021). However, most emphasize informed consent, a medical examination, and ethical considerations to guarantee the security and welfare of the donor and recipient (Mentzelopoulos et al., 2021). Worries have emerged about forcing donors to have surgery against their choice (Gardiner et al., 2020). This might happen if the latter are coerced to donate by family members or professionals.
Pros
Living organ donation is a procedure in which a functional organ, such as a kidney or liver, is freely donated from a living donor to a patient in need. Although there are certain drawbacks, including potential dangers and difficulties, several compelling arguments encourage living organ donation (Beier & Wöhlke, 2019). One of its most important advantages is the ability to significantly raise the quality of life for transplant recipients. Living organ donation, which allows for a more precise match between the donor and recipient, has been demonstrated to boost the success of the transplant over time. Gardiner et al. (2020) suggest that recipients of organs from living donors experience better results than those from deceased individuals. In addition, the time taken to complete the procedure is less, meaning more lives can be saved (Gardiner et al., 2020).
Moreover, due to the insufficient number of human parts for transplant, clients are forced to wait for multiple years for organs from deceased donors. However, if a patient finds a matched living donor, they do not need to wait on the list. Furthermore, the procedure might make donors content and fulfilled (Bollen et al., 2019). Clinical research reveals that one deceased organ donor can potentially save seven lives (Bollen et al., 2019). Donating an organ can be a life-altering experience that may support one’s personal growth.
Cons
Living organ donation is now widespread, and many people opt to donate their organs to benefit those in need. However, it is essential to consider any dangers and adverse effects resulting from the procedure (Mentzelopoulos et al., 2021). There are inherent risks associated with surgery for the donor, including the possibility of hemorrhage, infection, and other problems (Gardiner et al., 2020).
Gardiner et al. (2020) claim that it is possible for individuals who give their organs to experience financial constraints. Additionally, it is essential to consider organ donation’s psychological and emotional implications. Donors may struggle with depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues (Mentzelopoulos et al., 2021). Moreover, the recipient can have functional issues, and the donor might experience remorse or resentment. All these aspects must be considered when deciding whether to donate a living organ.
Conclusion
After considering both sides of the debate, it is apparent that the benefits of organ donation and transplantation majorly outweigh the drawbacks. Organ donation can improve the quality of life for transplant patients and save the lives of people with serious illnesses. For example, living organ donation can drastically shorten transplant wait times and improve long-term success rates. Promoting and sustaining it is essential as the need for transplantable organs rises.
Additionally, it gives donors a sense of accomplishment and purpose, informed by the theory of utilitarianism, which advocates for actions that promote pleasure and opposes those that result in unhappiness. This aligns with my position that individuals should be encouraged to participate in activities that accord them a sense of gratification. The safety and success rates have also increased due to advancements in medical technology.
However, there are issues with the moral ramifications of encouraging organ donation and ensuring everyone has equal access to transplantation. Therefore, more studies and instruction are required to solve these problems and guarantee the morality, safety, and equity of the living organ donation procedure. Living organ donation may be justified as necessary and has the power to save many lives. We can keep raising the safety and success rates of living organ donation while ensuring that the process is just and moral for everyone through appropriate education, regulation, and support.
References
Beier, K., & Wöhlke, S. (2019). An ethical comparison of living kidney donation and surrogacy: understanding the relational dimension. Philosophy, Ethics, and Humanities in Medicine, 14, 1-9. Web.
Bollen, J. A., Shaw, D., de Wert, G., Ten Hoopen, R., Ysebaert, D., van Heurn, E., & van Mook, W. N. (2019). Euthanasia through living organ donation: ethical, legal, and medical challenges. The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation, 38(2), 111-113. Web.
Gardiner, D., Charlesworth, M., Rubino, A., & Madden, S. (2020). The rise of organ donation after circulatory death: a narrative review. Anaesthesia, 75(9), 1215–1222. Web.
Mentzelopoulos, S. D., Couper, K., Van de Voorde, P., Druwé, P., Blom, M., Perkins, G. D., & Bossaert, L. (2021). European Resuscitation Council guidelines (2021). Ethics of resuscitation and end-of-life decisions. Resuscitation, pp. 161, 408–432. Web.