Ethics Governance
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| Article - Abstract. To view full article click on the article title. | |
CBHD: Sharing Scarce Organs with Others: Designating Donation as a Model of Giving - by Gregory W. Rutecki, MD When organ transplantation is characterized by the covenantal sharing of scarce resources, as it should be under ideal circumstances, it optimally reflects giving to the "least of these."1 Recently, a Latino man was dying as a result of Sclerosing Cholangitis.2 This is the untreatable liver disease that claimed the life of Chicago Bears' great Walter Payton. Although on the "waiting list" for a liver transplant, the man ran the risk of becoming another grim statistic—there were only approximately 5,000 livers donated in the last decade for the 18,000 patients who were in desperate need.3 He was running out of time, yet no organ had been made available. Although the patient's brother volunteered to donate in an adult living liver transplant protocol, someone who was not even a family member stepped forward. The patient's parish priest told the brother, "I can't let you do it, you are the father of four, I'll do it." And he did. Maybe this is not a typical transplantation story, but it is one that nonetheless captures the essence of voluntary sacrifice in the realm of solid organ donation. Another story highlights a newer side to giving.4 Two couples in Northeastern Ohio shared similar serious health problems—one of the wives (Debbie who is married to Gary) and one of the husbands (Ron married to Kathy) had kidney failure and were on dialysis. Full Article: http://www.cbhd.org/resources/healthcare/rutecki_2004-12-29.htm |
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2006 Ethics-Governance.com |
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