Organ Donation

Question 1

What does informed consent mean?

Answer 1

Having the ability to understand
and give permission to something

Deciding to donate your organs

Question 2

What does presumed consent?

Answer 2

You assume they give permission

Question 3

1 strength of Informed Consent
(People’s lives will be saved)

Answer 3

Over 500 people in Scotland will be saved each year due to the selflessness of others

Question 4

1 strength of Informed Consent
(The Government)

Answer 4

The government can spend the money on other life threatening issues.

Question 5

1 strength of Informed Consent
(It can become the norm)

Answer 5

It will eventually become the norm within society to donate your organs this can be through word of mouth or social media platforms.

Question 6

1 weakness of Informed Consent
(Where do the organs go?)

Answer 6

Where do the organs to? (i.e should there be a ranking order to who should receive and not receive them?)

Question 7

1 weakness of Informed Consent
(Science become lazy)

Answer 7

Will science become lazy in medical development if there are more organs than before (i.e. will it be easier to give someone an organ than treating them?)

Question 8

1 weakness of Informed Consent
(Too much pressure)

Answer 8

Are opt-out governments putting too much pressure on people?

Question 9

What is soft-opt out?

Answer 9

If the dead person has not previously
opted out themselves their relatives may deny consent for organ donation on the
person’s behalf. i.e. Scotland

Question 10

What is hard-opt out?

Answer 10

ignores the views of relatives and the
dead person is presumed to
have given consent i.e. Austria

Question 11

What is an advantage of soft-opt out?

Answer 11

People have a say about
what happens to their body.
There is no interference from
government legislation. Why
should your family be in
control of your body?

Question 12

What is an advantage of hard opt-out?

Answer 12

Countries like Austria have more
organs available than soft opt
out. It encourages more people to view organ donation as a natural process where they know what will happen to the body when they die. The government has too much control over the body

Question 13

What is an issue with consent?

Answer 13

An issue with consent is some people may be forced to donate an organ i.e. organ trafficking which has happened in China. This is a violation of a person’s human
rights as they are being forced to do something they might not wish to do.

Question 14

Religious Responses to Organ Transplantation
(Christianity)

Answer 14

Christians consider organ donation is an act of love and a way of following Jesus’ example. Christians believe in eternal life and preparing for death shouldn’t be feared. They also believe that nothing happens to our body, before or after death, that can impact our relationship with God.

Question 15

What is the Roman Catholics view on organ and tissue donation?

Answer 15

Roman Catholics view organ and tissue donation as an act of charity and love, as reported “Transplants are morally and ethically acceptable to the Vatican”

Question 16

Religious Responses to Organ Transplantation
(Buddhism)

Answer 16

The death process of an individual is viewed as a very important time that should be treated with the greatest care and respect. Central to Buddhism is a wish to relive suffering and there may be circumstances where organ donation may be seen as an act of generosity.The Buddha in a previous life gave his body to a starving tigress who couldn’t feed her cubs. What loss do I suffer to give an unwanted organ after my death to give another person life?

Question 17

Non-religious Responses to Organ Transplantation
(Humanism)

Answer 17

Humanists believe that we have only one life and that we can make it meaningful by being happy, making others happy and adopting worthwhile goals to give our lives meaning and purpose. Most Humanists would consider that we have a moral responsibility to allow our organs to be used for transplantation, if that will help save lives and improve the quality of life for others.

Question 18

Non-religious Responses to Organ Transplantation
(Act Utilitarianism)

Answer 18

The consequences of your actions decide whether your actions were right or wrong. If your actions are likely to lead to the greatest good for the greatest number then they’re probably right.

Question 19

Non-religious Responses to Organ Transplantation
(Welfare Utilitarianism)

Answer 19

A welfare utilitarian looks at aspects that enhance society as opposed to a single person. In the case of a heroic donor, a welfare utilitarian could say that it was justifiable to refuse an organ as the medical evidence shows that it will do no one good.

Question 20

What is the basic explanation of the Dead Donor Rule?

Answer 20

It is wrong for doctors to deliberately end a patient’s life and death must be properly established i.e. organs will not be taken from deaths that are suspicious.

Question 21

How many people who die in the UK are actually able to be donors?

Answer 21

100

Question 22

How many people die each year in the UK waiting for an organ?

Answer 22

430

Question 23

How is it difficult for families with the Dead Donor Rule?

Answer 23

Some families may find this difficult if they wish to spend time with their loved ones as they may feel pressure to not spend time with the body and properly mourn as the organs will started to become less effective.

Question 24

Religious Responses to Beating Heart Donor
(Islam)

Answer 24

Brain death is not considered death in Islam until rigor mortis sets in (12 hours after death)
This causes difficulties as it will be hard to assure families that a family member with brain-stem death is truly dead in order to allow donation to happen.
Most transplants in Muslim countries happen from live donations for example in 2006, 13% of kidney donations in Iran were from deceased donors. However in the UK it was 62%.

Question 25

Religious Responses to Beating Heart Donor
(Buddhism)

Answer 25

Buddhism promotes all acts that may help to alleviate the suffering of others. When he discovers a monk sick and uncared for, the Buddha said to the other monks: “if you don’t tend to one another, who will then tend to you? Whoever tend to me, should tend to the sick”

Question 26

Religious Responses to Beating Heart Donor
(Judaism)

Answer 26

Many Rabbis say that death in Jewish law occurs with the irreversible process of the brain stem function. Authorities (Orthodox, Conservative and Reform) say that in such cases organs may be removed for the purpose of saving another’s life.

In 2010 the Conservative Movement say that where a person is unconscious, dependent on a ventilator and gas no hope of recovery - even if they may show limited brain activity - the person, under certain conditions, can be removed from life support and their organs can be taken for transplant after the heart stops beating.

Question 27

Non-religious Responses to Beating Heart Donor
(Utilitarian)

Answer 27

There is no point in prolonging life unnecessarily when the quality of life doesn’t amount to much.
Utilitarian’s wouldn’t necessarily have a problem with withdrawing life support, with the intention of “Killing”. This is because “killing can be regarded as acceptable where it is of benefit to the greatest number. Keeping brain dead people on life support wastes scarce medical resources (in the US this can cost $7500 a day) Maintaining life support is only right when there is some benefit to the person receiving it, certainly not the family’s benefit.

Question 28

Non-religious Responses to Beating Heart Donor
(Humanism)

Answer 28

We have no good reason to believe that once the brain is destroyed, there can be any form of conscious life for the individual, indeed, once the body has disintegrated there is no form of life at all for that individual.
As Humanists believe that the life of the individual continues after death (i.e. through memories and experiences with others) prolonging life is not an issue for concern. Humanists obviously seek to respect the dying - an element of that respect is to respect their wish for an earlier painless death rather than a prolonged painful death.

Question 29

List the main points on what Humanists believe.

Answer 29

• good without a God
• think for ourselves
• individual responsibility
• evolved naturally
• make the world a better place for everyone
• improve human welfare

Question 30

Jahi McMath
Why was Jahi’s case controversial?

Answer 30

because she was kept alive on life support though she was brain dead and there was no chance she could recover.

Question 31

Jahi McMath
What did medical professionals want to do when she was pronounced brain dead?

Answer 31

They wanted to give her a death certificate.

Question 32

Jahi McMath
How many years was she kept “alive” whilst brain dead?

Answer 32

She was kept alive for 5 years. In 2013, she was brain dead but kept her alive until 2018.

Question 33

The American Humanist Society state that the decision is best left with the family - do you agree?

Answer 33

Even though the family should be respected and listened to, their not medical professionals and there is no chance of her recovering so why is she being kept alive. The doctors should intervene and allow the family to be with her and leave her with peace.

Question 34

LIving Donors
How many people a year donate a kidney or part of their liver in the UK?

Answer 34

1000 people a year donate whilst their still alive to a relative, friend or someone they don’t know.

Question 35

Living Donors
What is the most common organ to be donated by a living person?

Answer 35

Kidney

Question 36

Living Donors
What is Direct Donation?

Answer 36

The living donor chooses the specific person they want to give their kidney to. This type of donation happens when the donor and patient are family members or friends.

Question 37

Living Donors
What is Non-direct Donation?

Answer 37

The living donor does not name a specific person who should receive their kidney. The kidney can be given to anyone in need of a match. This type of donation is way less heard of and less common.

Question 38

What is the average waiting time for an organ?

Answer 38

2-3 1/2 years

Question 39

When was the first successful kidney transplant?

Answer 39

1960

Question 40

When was the first successful liver transplant?

Answer 40

1968

Question 41

Why would people not just wait for a dead organ?

Answer 41

Recipients of living donor livers have an average 5% better long-term survival rate than recipients of deceased donor livers.
Kidneys from living donors can sometimes last almost twice as long as kidneys from deceased donors. On average kidney donor transplants last 15-20 years.

Question 42

Religious Responses to Living Donors
(Christianity)

Answer 42

It seems to be in keeping wit this that Christians consider organ donation as a genuine act of love and a way of following Jesus’ example (When he proved his love for the world by dying on the cross). This act of love then becomes part of a Christian faith journey that is motivated by compassion to help someone else and demonstrate a sense of social responsibilities. Sacrificing and helping others are consistent themes in Christianity, which teaches the principle of seeking for others what you hope others would do for you.

Question 43

Religious Responses to Living Donors
(Islam)

Answer 43

In 2019, Muslim scholars, imams and medical staff agreed that it was acceptable for living organ donation to be carried out.
Historically, and also in the present day, many Muslims believe that organ donation is Haram, prohibited. This is because the human body is considered sacred and the Prophet Muhammad, said that the body remains sacred even after death and shouldn’t be harmed.
Living organ donation is permissible, provided harm to the donor is negligible or relatively minor that it does not disrupt the life of the donor.

Question 44

List the Pope Quotes

Answer 44

“Organ donation is an example of ‘everyday heroism’” - Pope John Paul II (1978-2005)
Pope Benedict XVI (2005-2013) - had carried an organ donor since 1970
“Organ donation is a testimony of love for our neighbour” - Pope Francis (2013-present day)