Transplant Ethics

Question 1

Are financial incentives or compensation for transplanted organs legal?

Answer 1

no

Question 2

A hospital develops a policy for controlled donation after cardiac death (DCD). The hospital policy specifies important details of the DCD process including the following:

1. Potential DCD donors are patients with non-recoverable and irreversible neurological injuries resulting in ventilator dependence
2. The patient or surrogate decision maker must have made the decision to withdraw the ventilator and other life-sustaining therapies independently and prior to the decision to donate
3. Donation takes place after irreversible cessation of circulatorry and respiratory functions according to the standards of practice
4. For DCD donors, declaration of cardiac death will be determined by a physician on the transplant team

True or False: this policy is ethically appropriate

Answer 2

-False: No member of the transplant team or organ procurement organization (OPO) staff may participate in the guidance or administration of comfort care measures or the declaration of death

Question 3

(T/F) The US system allows for financial incentives to be provided to encourage donation.

Answer 3

False: We have an opt-in, altruistic model here and considering the statement by UNOS, that won’t change soon