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Organ Donation and Ethics



             Another major source of dispute is the consent of the donor. Generally, a consented donation would not invite questions from ethics and morality (as bioethics' main concern is simply ethical consent). However, in various parts of the world we would find instances that may raise questions. For example, as a policy of many European nations, their citizens' organs are taken after they die, unless a person specifically requests to not donate while still living. In other words, the default understanding is that all citizens "prefer" to donate only unless otherwise stated prior to death. Advocates of this "presumed consent" approach might say that it is every person's civic duty to donate their organs once they no longer need them (i.e. after death) to those who do. However, one cannot simply conclude this as different people have different opinions and different preferences. Opposition argues that the default preference should be that which is normal-that is the decision that preserves the natural state of the body. Further example (and more controversial) is that of China's forced consent donation from prisoners. Prisoners who die are automatically considered as sources of organs. One may be left asking if this is a morally sound strategy for organ procurement given that a subliminal interpretation of this act being an extension of punishment is unavoidable. On the other hand, others may argue that what is morally worse is to put to waste these prisoners' organs that could have saved another life.
             A third classification is the compensation of the donors. Generally, there are five subtypes of donors in this category: those who donate to family members or friends, those who do cross donation (donating to strangers in exchange for an organ to be received from the stranger's family or friend), those considered as "Good Samaritan" donors who expect nothing in return, and donors who donate in exchange of financial or other forms of compensation.


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