Organ Donation Saves Human Lives - Research Paper Example

?THE ETHICAL CHOICE The Ethical Choice: In Favor of Organ Transplants Word Count 250 (5 pages) I. Introduction Somewhere out there, there is someone who is having dialysis because he or she needs a kidney transplant. That person’s kidneys are not working properly and dialysis is necessary to rid the body’s excretion of urea into the bloodstream. Somewhere in another place, there might be a young infant or a young teenager who is hoping, waiting patiently, for a heart transplant due to having a congenital birth defect or a hole in the heart. These stories are different, but the underlying cause of these individuals’ problems is one and the same: they require life-saving organ transplants. Of course, organ donations are received in many ways. Sometimes people pass away due to an accident and wish to have their remaining organs donated. Other people die of natural causes and wish that their organs and corpse be dedicated to medical science. Yet, still, there are other people who are living donors—who are alive but choose, for whatever reason, to donate one of their vital organs to another human being. Whatever the reason, it will be argued here that organ donation is an ethically sound choice to make, for the following rationale: organ donation saves human lives; organ donation is utilitarian; and organ donation can turn a negative situation into a positive one. II. Organ Donation Saves Human Lives People may be opposed to organ donation, but the bottom line is that organ donation saves peoples’ lives—many times people who are desperate to get an organ transplant. According to Kanniyakonil (2005), “One of the main issues related to living organ donation and transplantation is [the utilization of] human organs to save human lives” (pp. 18). Of course, one cannot escape the fact that there are certain major religions—such as Judaism and Islam—which strictly forbid their adherents from donating organs because it is an affront to their beliefs. Not being physically whole at the time of burial is a source of great concern among those who practice these two major world faiths. However, the fact remains that organ donations are necessary in order to save peoples’ lives—at almost any cost. In fact, donating one’s organs are seen as an exemplary act of giving life to another human being, thus respecting life and knowing that one life has been saved due to someone else’s unselfish and giving act. According to Miller and Truog (2011), “[V]ital organ donation should be seen as giving due respect to the value of human life” (pp. 125). Even though it may be an uncomfortable subject to talk about, people should let their families know whether or not—should they be incapacitated—if their organs should be donated in the aftermath of a tragedy, presuming their bodily organs are intact at the time of death. It may be a touchy subject to breach, and many people may not like the idea of their loved ones’ immortalities. However, this hurdle is easily overcome by someone who has one’s mind profoundly staunch in one’s assertion that donating one’s organs in the event of accidental death—is not only the philanthropic thing to do, but the ethical thing to do in such a case. III. Organ Donation is Utilitarian Although it may be slightly uncomfortable for either the person donating the organ or the person’s family, end-of-life wishes should be made in advance which correlate with the wishes of the person who is going to donate his or her organs, a purely, at-times, utilitarian decision. The person donating his or her organs realizes that he or she connects to the universe on a bigger scale, and that one’s organs shouldn’t be wasted if there is still life in them—for the sake of utilitarian ideals. According to Butts and Rich (2005), “With autonomy and decision making as a focus for individuals, utilitarian-based programs find it a challenge to increase the number of organ donors. For a utilitarian approach, some countries use a presumed consent approach…” (pp. 60). Although utilitarianism may not be the best advertisement for one wanting to donate an organ, it makes sense that, when one can no longer use one’s organs, it makes it that much more of an ethical decision and a utilitarian cause celebre to donate them to someone whose life might be extended, due to that courtesy. Of course, no one should try to mask the true intent of the doctors trying to harvest organs from people whose end-of-life wishes are not corollary with what the medical community would like to see happen to such peoples’ organs. According to Cantor (2005), “Some commentators on organ donation perceive disguised utilitarianism as the actual explanation for the cases authorizing a surrogate's decision to allow an organ or a tissue transplant from an incapacitated patient” (pp. 169). However, one must not let such discussions deter one from the original point—that organ donations make the most of the extension of human life for another individual. In addition, as we shall see in the next section, an organ donation can turn a negative situation into a positive one—therefore bringing joy and fulfillment to someone else’s life, even though a tragedy has occurred. IV. Organ Donation Turns a Negative Situation into a Positive One Organ donation can turn a negative situation into a positive event. According to Barker (2007), “If you know anyone who has received an organ ...[we are] then reminded of how something good can come from a bad situation” (pp. 65). Of course, it is terribly tragic when a friend or loved one dies in an accident. The family must then make the decision, “Should we donate the organs of him or her? What would be his or her final wishes?” Obviously, every family is different. Some families wouldn’t even think twice about rejecting such an idea—mainly because, for many people, religious or not, they are very skeptical in terms of having their loved one sliced and diced for the medical community. This is in spite of the fact that the medical community is plagued with an overwhelming registry donor, especially in the U.S.—and the grisly, dim fact that there are simply not enough organs in the system to be able to be donated to other people who are on that donor list. However, a tragic death need not mean the end of life. With someone’s careful forethought and planning, people who die young or die from some accidental cause may be the most helpful in the fight to get more organ donations. Thusly, even though a beloved friend or family member has passed, allowing that person’s organs to be donated—had it been the wish of the deceased—allows that person to now give life to someone else, ‘a second chance at life,’ if you will. Such donations would make it possible for other people to live happy, contented, and fulfilled lives—as very grateful, humble people who were on the receiving end of a gift that was a positive ending to an initial, potentially completely tragic story. V. Conclusion Of course, organ donation is not necessarily a popular choice among the general populace, but it is an ethical decision as an end-of-life wish that may benefit someone who is in dire need of an organ that could save a life. While not everyone may be excited about donating his or her organs after death, it should be seriously considered. Thusly, there are many positive ethical reasons why organ transplants are helpful and necessary: organ donations save human lives; organ donations are utilitarian in nature; and perhaps most importantly, organ donations have the potential to turn negative situations into positive outcomes in the process. WORKS CITED Barker, K. (2007). 911 what happens next?: inside information you can't do without! US: Outskirts Press. Butts, J.B., & Rich, K. (2005). Nursing ethics: across the curriculum and into practice. US: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Cantor, N.L. (2005). Making medical decisions for the profoundly mentally disabled. US: MIT Press. Kanniyakonil, S. (2005). Living organ donation and transplantation: a medical, legal, and moral theological appraisal. India: WiGi Offset Printers. Miller, F.G. & Truog, R. (2011). Death, dying, and organ transplantation: reconstructing medical ethics at the end of life. UK: Oxford University Press. Read More