Organ DonationMoral Implications

Moral Implications

• Transplant technology is developing so rapidly that new practices are outpacing society’s ability to explore their moral implications.

Organ Donation

• One body can provide

• 1 heart or 4 heart valves• 2 lungs• 2 kidneys• 1 liver• 1 pancreas• 2 hip joints• 1 jawbone• 6 ear bones• 2 corneas

• Bone Marrow• Limb bones and ribs• Ligaments, tendons,

and pieces of cartilage• Skin• Blood vessels

Ethics of Allocating organs

• What types of factors should be taken into consideration when deciding which particular individual will receive a transplant?• Best chance of living and surviving the operation• Most likely to die within a short time• Blood type• Has the person received an organ before• Age• Value to society• Person waiting the longest• Previous/current lifestyle – was the medical problem self induced• Ability to pay

The Big Questions

• What limits, if any, should be placed on human efforts to overcome death?

• Science is evolving at an incredible rate. Are all these developments steps in the right direction?

What makes you…You?

• With medical breakthroughs, supposed it is possible to complete a successful brain transplant. Sarah has died in an accident, and her family has given consent to give her brain to Kelly. Who exists after the operation?

• Option A: It is Sarah, but with a new body.• Option B: It is Kelly, but with a new brain.• Option C: It is a combination of both girls

Medical Breakthrough or Ethical can of worms?

• In a provocative new paper, an Italian neuroscientist outlines how to perform a complete human head transplant, arguing that such a surgical procedure is now within the realm of possibility.

• 07/08/2013• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/06/head-transplant-italian-neuroscientist_n_3533391.html