Organ transplants - responses

Question 1

What does catechism 2296 say on organ donation

Answer 1

“Free gift of organs after death is legitimate and meritorious”

Question 2

Religious responses to organ procurement from a beating donor

Answer 2

Islamic:
Many muslims believe death occurs when the soul leaves the body, but this isn’t known whether it happens when the brain stops working or when the heart stops beating. Therefore, Muslims would have varying views on when death occurs as there is no clear cut definition biologically. Depending on what each Muslim believes would then lead to whether they would accept beating heart donation to be acceptable or not.

Roman Catholic :
Many Roman Catholics believe death occurs when the soul leaves the body. However, many Catholics also approve of the clinical death of the brain as the true definition of death. Therefore, it implies that beating heart donation is allowed for some Christian’s who agree with clinical brain death definition whilst others may not believe this is when death occurs. Therefore, they would believe organ procurement of a beating heart is morally unacceptable, as it violates the sanctity of life

Question 3

Religious responses to organ procurement from a living donor

Answer 3

Islamic:
In Islam, living donation is generally accepted due to the benefit it has for the recipient. However, there must be informed consent and there should be minimal risk to the donor’s health.

Roman Catholic
Christians believe it’s good to help others, especially when saving a life that is holy. However, it should be fully consensual and since this catechism only states after death, it may imply living donors aren’t preferred due to potential harm posed to the donor

Question 4

Non religious responses to organ procurement from a beating heart donor

Answer 4

Humanist
As humanists take science
into consideration when making moral decisions, they are likely to accept the clinical brain death definition as it was first introduced by a group of researchers at Harvard medical school and has widely been accepted since then. Furthermore, the heart would maximise saving the life of someone who has not yet lived their life to the full whilst the deceased brain dead has already lived their own.
Utilitarian:
Utilitarians would weigh up the pain and pleasure. If this donation is likely to cause stress to the friends and family members of the loved who has just passed away, they may question whether the transplant is worth it.
However, they may also consider what the donor would have wanted, as well as all the pleasure which would be caused by the recipient if they survive and live their life, completing many positive things.

Question 5

Non-religious responses to organ procurement from a living donor

Answer 5

Humanist:
Many humanists would promote living donation because it would potentially save the live of someone who only has one to live, whilst the donor would likely to not be seriously impacted by the transplant.
Humanists also believe that personal autonomy is highly important, so if someone wants to donate their organs, they should not be stopped from doing this as it is their right and choice.
Utilitarian:
Utilitarians would weigh up the pleasure and pain arising from living donor. In most cases, it can be assumed that living donor would cause the most pleasure for the most amount of people (recipient, their friends and family, as well as the donor for being able to help someone). This would especially be the case if the organ was donated to a family member.