Organ Allocation and the Substance Abuser

Paper Summary:

This paper looks at how between 10,000 and 12,000 people die annually who are considered medically suitable for organ donation and how only an estimated 6000 people donate. It discusses how, faced with the demand greatly exceeding the supply, we are faced with the moral and ethical decision of how to allocate these organs. In particular, it focuses on liver transplants and the ethics of giving patients who failed to seek treatment for their alcoholism a lower priority for organs over patients who are in need of a transplant through no fault of their own.

From the Paper:

"Individuals with a reversible disease such as alcoholism should seek help before it progresses into the stage where transplantation is necessary. Alcoholism is a chronic disease, for which treatment is available and effective. Alcoholics should be held responsible for seeking and obtaining treatment that could prevent the development of late-stage complications such as the development of late-stage complications such as ARESLD. This view is consistent with that of Alcoholics Anonymous in the belief that alcoholics are responsible for undertaking a program of recovery that will keep their disease of alcoholism in remission. One comprehensive review concluded that more than two thirds of patients who accept therapy improve (Steinbock, Arras, and London, 2003)."

More papers on Organ Allocation and the Substance Abuser:

• Research Proposal # 11223 : "Adventure Therapy and Adolescent Substance Abusers"
• Argumentative Essay # 108947 : "Organ Donation and the Internet"
• Research Paper # 74969 : "African American Males and the Criminal Justice System "

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: