The Ethics of Cadaveric Organs for Transplantation
THE ETHICS OF CADAVERIC ORGANS FOR TRANSPLANTATION
The Ethics of Cadaveric Organs for Transplantation
Brianne Vought
HAS 545.01 Ethics and Health Care
Advancements in medicine have allowed for the ability to transplant organs from a cadaver to a living patient. Immunosuppressive drugs have been developed to block the bodily rejection of organs from the deceased making transplantation possible. When an individual dies The Uniform Anatomical Gift Act allows for tissue and organs of the cadaver to be used for transplantation (Garrett, Baillie, & Garrett, 2001). This document is a set model or regulations and laws concerning organ donation that all 50 states have passed in some measure. Organs such as the kidneys, heart, liver, lungs, pancreas, intestines and spleen can be transplanted if the timing is close after death. Tissues such as skin, corneas and bone however, can be donated hours after death. One cadaveric donor can provide organs for several different individuals. What organs and tissues which can be recovered may depend on the cause of death or damage to an organ but usually several are harvested. Transplantation has become an effective treatment of human disease.
Death is legally defined by the Uniform Determination of Death Act (UDDA) as either the irreversible stoppage of circulatory and respiratory functions (non-heart-beating) or cessation of all functions of the brain including the stem (brain death). “A non-heart-beating cadaver is pronounced dead according to traditional cardiopulmonary standards” (Fox & Christakis, 1995) Brain death is a method to determine death when a person is on a ventilator but still has a pulse, blood pressure and other signs of life.
It is critical to harvest and transplant the donated organ(s) as quickly as possible close to the moment of death. If vital organs could be removed while still functioning they would be more likely be successfully transplanted. Patients who are on ventilators but not brain
The Ethics of Cadaveric Organs for Transplantation
Brianne Vought
HAS 545.01 Ethics and Health Care
Advancements in medicine have allowed for the ability to transplant organs from a cadaver to a living patient. Immunosuppressive drugs have been developed to block the bodily rejection of organs from the deceased making transplantation possible. When an individual dies The Uniform Anatomical Gift Act allows for tissue and organs of the cadaver to be used for transplantation (Garrett, Baillie, & Garrett, 2001). This document is a set model or regulations and laws concerning organ donation that all 50 states have passed in some measure. Organs such as the kidneys, heart, liver, lungs, pancreas, intestines and spleen can be transplanted if the timing is close after death. Tissues such as skin, corneas and bone however, can be donated hours after death. One cadaveric donor can provide organs for several different individuals. What organs and tissues which can be recovered may depend on the cause of death or damage to an organ but usually several are harvested. Transplantation has become an effective treatment of human disease.
Death is legally defined by the Uniform Determination of Death Act (UDDA) as either the irreversible stoppage of circulatory and respiratory functions (non-heart-beating) or cessation of all functions of the brain including the stem (brain death). “A non-heart-beating cadaver is pronounced dead according to traditional cardiopulmonary standards” (Fox & Christakis, 1995) Brain death is a method to determine death when a person is on a ventilator but still has a pulse, blood pressure and other signs of life.
It is critical to harvest and transplant the donated organ(s) as quickly as possible close to the moment of death. If vital organs could be removed while still functioning they would be more likely be successfully transplanted. Patients who are on ventilators but not brain
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