Question

Setting: Hospital in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

Background: A patient who is still conscious, yet, whose irreversible death because of terminal prostatic cancer is fast approaching, verbally signifies his wish.

Patient: "I want to donate some of my vital organs to the organ bank for life-sustenance of others. You can have my kidneys, corneas, heart, lungs and liver removed for future transplantation".

Doctor: "Okay, but it's better for you and your relatives to sign a document consenting to the donation of your vital organs".

Relative: "Alright, no problem".

In short, they sign the necessary document giving their consent. After sometime, as he is dying, the patient is taken to the Operating Room (OR) for the removal of said vital organs in pursuance of the agreement.

Question: Is it permissible for the health care practitioners to remove the vital organs of the dying patient? Why? (Justify your answers on the application of bioethical principles as well as on conditions set for organ donations. Answer in your own words.)

Answer 1

It is allowed to remove the vital organ of a dying patients if the donors prognosis is poor and if he is at the end stage of his life.

Organ donation is allowed with the informed consent from the patient and patients family members. The risks involved in organ donation shall be well informed to the patient

As per some hospital and state policies organ donation will not be received from cancer patients, however preliminary checks for the organs will be done for its condition

There should be fair justice made in between benifit and loss due to organ donation

Donating vital organs also benifit the donor by increasing the self esteem and satisfaction of helping others