More on organ donation

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More on organ donation
Pat Krukenkamp-Maskell

Organ donation is any surgical procedure involving some reconstruction of the human body involving the rights of two persons. Pope John Paul II, in his address to ‘The Society for Organ Sharing’ applauded the development of transplant surgery. He stated that “the only legitimate context” in which organ transplantation can take place must be one of “love, communion, solidarity and absolute respect for the dignity of the human person.”

Two types of organ transplants are possible, one involving an organ or tissue taken from a dead person and given to a living person, and the other involving an organ taken from one living person and given to another living person. Transplanting an organ or tissue from a living person to a living person presents no ethical problem as long as the following criteria are met: there is a serious need on the part of the recipient that cannot be fulfilled in any other way; the functional integrity of the donor as a human person will not be impaired, even though anatomical integrity may suffer the risk taken by the donor as an act of charity is proportionate to the good resulting for the recipient; and the donor’s consent is free and informed (Health Care Ethics, page 307 and following.).

When examining the morality of organ or tissue donation* from one living person to another living person, examining the level of mutilation is a good way to determine if the criterion of the functional integrity of the donor is met. A minor mutilation (the functional integrity of the donor remains) is morally permissible. Minor mutilations include procedures such as: blood donation, kidney or bone marrow transplantation, or the donation of placental/cord blood for adult stem cell research. Before considering participating in a donor program such as blood donation, please check with your physician to assure your health level is high enough to maintain functional integrity. Also, be aware that kidney and bone marrow transplantation require extensive screening for a “positive match” between the donor and the recipient. Major mutilation (functional integrity of donor destroyed) is immoral and not possible. Major mutilation includes procedures such as donation of both corneas, or both kidneys, or the use of embryonic stem cells for research purposes.

*Tissue transplantation is the transfer of any organized living matter, for example blood donations and bone marrow donations. Tissue transplantation may also include tissue derivatives, such as insulin and testosterone. It is also moral permissible to preserve tissue for future use such as a bone bank or blood bank.

http://www.examiner.com/x-19791-Columbus-Catholic-Examiner~y2009m9d8-More-on-organ-donation