The Ethical Responsibility of Mankind

The ethical responsibility of mankind

Tiffany Stamper

HCA322: Health Care Ethics & Medical Law

Instructor: Susan Vellek

December 23, 2013

The ethical responsibility of mankind

In the medical field ethical questions arise in any situation revolving around life or death. What is the moral thing to do? Who decides? A situation such as Organ donations, arises the question; is it morally right or morally wrong to donate? Organ donation to some people think that is important or an obligation to donate a potential organ and some people think it is morally wrong, however there are those who are unclear what it pertains. The principle of this gift one gives is a way one person can save another through self-decision. The Objectives that organizations like UNOS has is "...to advance organ availability and transplantation by uniting and supporting its community for the benefit of patients through education, technology, and policy development." (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, N/A) Thousands of people die because of the lack of an organ. Organ donations has become an option for people who need an organ like a heart, liver, kidney, or even tissues. Organ donation or the lack of it, has become the problem in regards of saving one's life. (Pozgar, 2012) The ethical responsibility for mankind would be too act morally and in this case, becoming an organ donor can preserve a life. Ethical theories guide individuals or society to determine what is right and wrong in these situations. Some people are concerned that if they are a donor they are at risk, however most don't understand what the process of becoming an organ donor and/or the law that will protected it. Not knowing the facts can render a person's judgment and decision; if it is morally right or morally wrong to donate?

When a person has an organ that is at end stages of failing, according to U.S. National Library of Medicine, "Organ donation takes healthy organs and tissues from one person for transplantation into another. Experts say that the organs from one donor can save or help as many as 50 people." (Medline Plus, 2013) Useable organs that can be transplanted are internal organs such as the liver, heart, kidneys, pancreas, intestines and lungs. The skin is also used to help live patients that suffered through skin disease or burn victims. Bone and Bone Marrow are also used for patient such as cancer patients. Organ donation can come from a live or deceased person however most do come from a person after pronounced dead. All ages and background can become an organ donor however under age needs garden permission. (Medline Plus, 2013) Organ donation is in high demand however with the patients' right to deny, providers and any organization that associates with this part of the medical field have challenges to face.

Organ transplant has been a successful system since the 1954 when the first living human donated a kidney to his twin brother by Dr. Joseph Murray and Dr. David Hume at Brigham Hospital in Boston. In 1962, Dr. Joseph Murray and Dr. David Humes did another successful kidney transplant this time from a deceased donor. Since then, successful transplants were becoming more and more known by other doctors like Dr. James Hardy at the University of Mississippi Medical Center with a lung transplant in 1963. In 1966, Drs. Richard Lillehei and William Kelly at the University of Minnesota with a pancreas/Kidney transplant, Dr. Thomas Starzl at the University of Colorado with a liver transplant and Dr. Christian Barnard at Goote Schuur hospital in South Africa with a successful Heart transplant in 1966. In 1968, the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act was established. This act is to institute state laws of the donations of organs/tissues from the deceased. The Uniform Donor Card was created to document the consent a person give to legally donate his or her organs at death. (New York Organ Donor Network, 2012) In other words, a person has control weather or not what is done to their bodies after death including donating your organs.

Organ donation or the lack of it, has become the problem in regards of saving one's life. Organ donation is a moral issue physically, mentally, and emotionally. There are thousands of people on a list for an organ and there are thousands of potential people who are not registered to be a donor; alive or deceased. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, N/A) The number of people who die each year because of the lack of organs verses the number of potential deceased that are not donors in the medical field is a problem. According to Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) (N/A) "Each day, about 79 people receive organ transplants. However, 18 people die each day waiting for transplants that can't take place because of the shortage of donated organs." (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, N/A) Before we can ask this ethical question we need to understand the facts of organ donations and the process of it.

We know that in the medical field ethical questions arise in the process for difficult decision making. As the healthcare system assists so many different types of cultures and beliefs in society, providers need to up hold the code of conduct. "A code of conduct generally prescribes standards of conduct, states principles expressing responsibilities, and defines the rules expressing duties of professionals to whom they apply." (Pozgar, 2012, Pg. 6) As a human being, one should act to words another human's well-being. In the physicians' position in regards of the need of an organ or tissue for a dying patient or a patient in need of an organ and waits on a list, is misinformed of the facts.

The process of becoming a donor is simple. By law, an informed consent (a document that provides permission from the patient) is required to do any medical procedures including removing or supplying organs from one's body. This consent can be done by enrolling in a state donor registry such as on a person's driver's license, on-line and/or verbally through family members in some cases. Once that donor is at end-of-life, providers do not have access to whether or not that person is a donor or not for the safety of the patient or the provider's judgment to save their life. However providers do have to discuss end wishes, procedures, treatments and answer any questions patient or family members might have including whether they want to donate or not. According to Health Resources & Services Administration that stress on how "Healthcare professionals work hard and long, doing everything possible