The allocation of organs donated by altruistic strangers.

Full Abstract

In many transplant centers, organ retrieval from altruistic strangers is accepted practice; patients use Internet Web sites and other public media to locate strangers willing to give them an organ. It is argued that altruistic strangers should be permitted to select the recipients of their organs because 1) personal relationships are morally important; 2) it increases the number of available organs; and 3) no one is hurt by the process. Nonetheless, using public media to obtain organs may undermine equity in organ allocation. Organs donated by altruistic strangers do not go necessarily to patients who have the best immunologic match or the most urgent need or who have waited the longest. A publicly chartered organization should be established to coordinate live organ donation, including donation by altruistic strangers. Altruistic strangers should be educated to allocate their donated organs according to a prudent balance of equity and utility rather than their emotional response to a particular patient's plight, identity, or circumstances.

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Author information

Author/s: Steinberg, David (D);

Affiliation: Lahey Clinic, Burlington, Massachusetts 01805, USA. david.steinberg(-atsign-)lahey.org

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Case Reports; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Annals of internal medicine (Ann Intern Med), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Aug; vol 145 (issue 3) : pp 197-203

Dates: Created 2006/08/01; Completed 2006/08/09; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 16880461, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

Comments and Corrections

CommentIn: Ann Intern Med. 2006 Aug 1;145(3):224-5. (PMID: 16880464)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult
Altruism
Directed Tissue Donation - ethics
Female
Health Policy
Humans

Internet
Living Donors - ethics; psychology
Male
Morals
Motivation
Tissue and Organ Procurement - ethics; organization & administration

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