Ethics of Organ Transplantation Regarding Lifestyle Choices

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Personal Responsibility
Metrics of Transplant Programs
Public Opinion
Conclusion
References

Introduction

The ethics of organ transplantation is a delicate issue that has been debated for decades. According to Lamb (2020), the main ethical dilemma associated with organ transplantation is connected to the shortage of organs available. Many people need an organ transplant, but only some of them do get one. This leads the public to argue about who deserves the procedure more than others. For instance, there are heated discussions about people whose organs are damaged due to unhealthy lifestyle choices – drinking, smoking, unhealthy eating, drug using, etc. There is an opinion that they are to receive lower access to transplants than people who are ill and have no control over their illness. This seems fair as it is a question of personal responsibility; moreover, granting less priority to those with harmful addictions reduces the risks to transplant programs and keeps people willing to donate organs.

Personal Responsibility

The argument most frequently resorted to is the one about a patient’s personal responsibility. In particular, some say that organ damage caused by a destructive lifestyle is self-induced – that is, people’s problems with health are the result of their voluntary actions (Machado, 2019). Therefore, providing such a patient with an organ is a drain on the scarce resources, which prevents those whose condition is not their fault from getting help. From the point of view of ethics, the justification of giving addicts a lower transplant priority lies in the fact that they are wholly responsible for it – from both causal and moral standpoints.

Metrics of Transplant Programs

Those leading unhealthy lives are considered not ‘good’ patients by doctors themselves – and it is not related to ethics whatsoever. The thing is that, as Lamas (2021) explains, transplant programs are affiliated with their parameters. For instance, if the survival rate of transplant recipients within one year is below expectations or if transplant failure numbers are higher than anticipated, programs could be put on probation or even lose their certifications. For newer or smaller programs, a few cases of failed transplants are likely to have a tremendous impact on overall figures. Considering how the health of addicts is usually poor to the point where there is a high likelihood of a transplant failure, it is not surprising that doctors are reluctant to take risks. This may result in any patient being unable to obtain a new organ via a particular program.

Public Opinion

The medical community is additionally concerned about people being less willing to donate organs if these are to be provided to patients deemed not deserving. Lamb (2020) states that the notion of the public’s reluctance to make donations for addicts is reinforced by the fact that in the 1980s and 1990s, there were not enough organs for them. However, Tong et al. (2017) report that in the 21^st century, people became more neutral towards donating for individuals with unhealthy lifestyles. Still, it might change for the worse again if the public saw that those suffering from an illness do not receive treatment on time because of the so-called equality policy. It will likely lead to an even higher organ shortage – and the consequences will be terrible.

Conclusion

In conclusion, people with unhealthy lifestyle choices are not to be deemed equal to ill people in terms of the necessity of organ transplantation. First of all, their condition is their responsibility – they voluntarily cause damage to their health, knowing about the consequences. Moreover, the high likelihood of their transplant failing to take puts transplant programs at risk of a shutdown. Additionally, the public might become outraged upon learning that their donations are provided to addicts rather than people with illnesses, which might reduce their desire to donate and lead to a higher organ shortage. Organs are a scarce and precious resource and it is fairer if they are gifted to people whose conditions could not be prevented by their actions.

References

Lamas, D.J. (2021). Who deserves a lifesaving organ?The New York Times.

Lamb, D. (2020). Organ transplants and ethics. Routledge.

Machado, N. (2019). Using the bodies of the dead: Legal, ethical and organisational dimensions of organ transplantation. Routledge.

Tong, A., Sautenet, B., Chapman, J. R., Harper, C., MacDonald, P., Shackel, N.,… & Craig, J. C. (2017). Research priority setting in organ transplantation: A systematic review.Transplant International, 30(4), 327-343.

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Ethics of Organ Transplantation Regarding Lifestyle Choices

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