Ethics committees, organ transplantation and public policy

Article Abstract:

Ethics committees may be asked to develop a general policy on eligibility and priority of types of patients for organ transplantation. The material facts initially introduced as relevant can affect the policy outcome; for example, clinicians' perspectives differ from those of immunologists, and comparative data is lacking when registries of transplantation outcomes are consulted. Ethical issues concerning organ acquisition may need to be addressed as well as criteria for allocating organs. Several approaches to allocation are possible, such as utility maximization, social equity, chronological order or lottery.

Practice

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Physicians and futile care: using ethics committees to slow the momentum

Article Abstract:

Ethics committees can help to resist the trend toward unilateral determinations of medical futility by physicians in favor of a broader social discussion on the issues involved in limiting health care. Physician authority should not be assumed because patient rights have been supported by the legal system, patients are better informed and there is as yet no social consensus on health care rationing. Besides, the costs associated with acceding to patient and family demands for futile care do not appear to be high.

Physicians, Medical professions, Ethical aspects, Powers and duties, Medical care decision-making authority (Law), Medical care decision making authority (Law)

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Politics, policies, and problems with organ transplantation: government regulation needed to ration organs equitably

Article Abstract:

Congress created the National Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) to direct the policies needed to allocate human organs to proper recipients. The regulators within the OPTN, however, have become a hindrance to efficient distribution. The Secretary of the Dept of Health and Human Services issued new rules in July 1998, that essentially retained the OPTN's management structure but did reorganize the criteria for organ allocation from a regional focus to a national focus.

United States, Management, Donation of organs, tissues, etc., Tissue donation

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