Written Consent Of The Deceased Or Consent Of The Family?

Within the last few decades, one of the most amazing medical advances has been the ability to give organ transplants (Newkirk 11). Gary Newkirk states in Modern Medicine that "these medical events are a bittersweet experience, since in many instances someone's untimely death facilitates the survival of someone else"(Newkirk 11). The Pope John Paul II says organ donation is "a genuine act of love" (Century 947). Ten different religious leaders at the Ottawa headquarters of the Kidney Foundation in Canada, all signed an organ donor card (CMJ 1338). Rabbi Reuven Bulka says "We want to escalate this to the point where it's not even a choice-it is a duty of the individual"(CMJ 1338).

Currently, there are 62,000 individuals on a national waiting list for organ transplants of various types (Newkirk 11). Four people are added to this organ waiting list every hour, however, 12 people who are already on this list will die daily while waiting for a transplant (Newkirk 11). Many Americans claim they would gladly donate their family members organs if they knew that this was something their family member wanted (Newkirk 11).

Organ transplantation is one of the most important advances in medicine in the last 30 years. It allows people who would otherwise die or have a miserable quality of life to lead normal and productive lives if they could get a transplant. That is a big if. At any given time, dozens of people are waiting for a new lease on life, but many of them won't get it because not enough organs are available. People aren't signing up to be organ donors. The number of people who are on a waiting list for organs is increasing faster than the number of people who are declaring themselves organ donors. I don't understand why this is the case. I don't understand why people will not declare themselves as organ donors. Do they think they are going to need their organs why they die? It doesn't make sense. We are aware of this problem, but when people die, we put them in a casket and bury them with their organs, while at the same time somebody else is lying on their deathbed waiting for an organ that we just buried. It is shame, but unfortunately this seems like this is a situation that we won't completely understand until we, or one of our family members is in this situation.

Nelson, James Lindeman; Murray, Thomas. "Should Organ donation Be Automatic Unless A Person Has Expressly Forbidden It?" Health Oct. 1993: 30-32.

The big question here is whether or not organs should be taken from the deceased without the prior written consent, or consent of the family. James Nelson, who is an ethicist at a medical center in New York says, "Every year, many people who could live productive lives with a transplant die before a replacement heart or liver; can be found. A 'presumed consent' law would help save those live at virtually no cost to the person from whom the organs are taken. Currently, when a person dies, hospital staff members are required in most states to ask next of kin if they would donate the organs. But that's a terribly difficult time to be asking such a question, and many doctors and nurses simply don't. Giving up our organs after we're dead isn't charity in my view. It's a moral duty" (Nelson, Murray 30).

Century, Christian. "Pope Encourages Organ Donation." News Sept.-Oct. 2000: 947-948.

"Paying Respect To Organs." Editorial. Lancet Vol. 353 16 June 1999: 2085.

However, more than 75% of American's don't know if their family member is a registered donor (Newkirk 11). When confronted, roughly 50% will allow removal of their family member's organs (Newkirk 11). The key words here are "when confronted". It says in Lancet that studies have showed health care workers do not like to confront the family during this tragic time with such a request (2085). The organ donation question must be asked immediately following the death, because time is a major player (Perry 38). Major organs, like the heart and lungs, need to be removed from the body with 4-6 hours after death (Perry 38). Other or

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