Organ Donation Controversies - Sam Wells
Link: http://www.bioedge.org/index.php/bioethics/bioethics_article/10002
Summary: This article talks about when it should be allowed, exactly, to begin an organ transplant. Organs can only be taken out of a patient after they are declared dead and cannot be revived. Once they are pronounced dead the machines keep blood flowing to keep the organs alive and fresh for a transplant. The question is how long should doctors and transplant teams have to wait to be sure the patient is 100% dead and unable to be revived?
If the stop of blood flow means the person is dead, what does it mean for them when it starts again because of the machine? How can doctors be sure the patient is fully dead and still not wait too long that the organs cant be transplanted? what is more important, the small potential for life of a patient or the guaranteed life of the healthy organ recipient?
I feel that if a patient agrees to become an organ donor, than they are willing to sacrifice their small chance for survival to save another. It is not an easy thing to decide whether to revive a patient or save another. However, people who do sacrifice their life and are willing to save another become small heroes in this world.
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