Summary of Extracts on Organ Donation
Summary of Extracts on Organ Donation
The following is a summary of information regarding organ donation found in the extracts of articles by Boyle (2006) and Wilkinson (2008). It highlights the critical need for donors, the positive impact donation can have on a recipient’s quality of life, and the need for clearer guidelines in regards to the process.
Organ donation is a highly emotive subject that polarises opinion. For every person who makes the decision to donate their organs to save another person’s life, there is a person who chooses not to. But the decision to donate can have a huge impact on the quality of life of another human being. In this extract, Boyle highlights how a person can go from being critically ill one day, to living a productive, healthy life, the next. Unfortunately, these scenarios are not as common as one would hope. The number of people awaiting critical, life-saving transplants greatly exceeds the number of available organs.
Wilkinson responds to a recent complaint by a leading Melbourne Intensive Care Physician that questioned the legality of the current process and whether donors truly had enough information to give “informed” consent.
The Author does not agree with the Professor’s critique. She states that in her varied experience, the current protocol satisfies ethical and legal requirements. She firmly believes that pre and post death care are of the same high standard, regardless of the patients intent, or not, to donate their organs. Wilkinson does, however, agree that more information should be made available to potential donors regarding the process, but is careful to point out the risk of scaring potential donors off with excess information.
Wilkinson goes on to state that there will always be arguments surrounding the circumstances of donation. What may be acceptable to one person may be unacceptable to another. She suggests one way of overcoming this, is to offer people more choice at the point of
The following is a summary of information regarding organ donation found in the extracts of articles by Boyle (2006) and Wilkinson (2008). It highlights the critical need for donors, the positive impact donation can have on a recipient’s quality of life, and the need for clearer guidelines in regards to the process.
Organ donation is a highly emotive subject that polarises opinion. For every person who makes the decision to donate their organs to save another person’s life, there is a person who chooses not to. But the decision to donate can have a huge impact on the quality of life of another human being. In this extract, Boyle highlights how a person can go from being critically ill one day, to living a productive, healthy life, the next. Unfortunately, these scenarios are not as common as one would hope. The number of people awaiting critical, life-saving transplants greatly exceeds the number of available organs.
Wilkinson responds to a recent complaint by a leading Melbourne Intensive Care Physician that questioned the legality of the current process and whether donors truly had enough information to give “informed” consent.
The Author does not agree with the Professor’s critique. She states that in her varied experience, the current protocol satisfies ethical and legal requirements. She firmly believes that pre and post death care are of the same high standard, regardless of the patients intent, or not, to donate their organs. Wilkinson does, however, agree that more information should be made available to potential donors regarding the process, but is careful to point out the risk of scaring potential donors off with excess information.
Wilkinson goes on to state that there will always be arguments surrounding the circumstances of donation. What may be acceptable to one person may be unacceptable to another. She suggests one way of overcoming this, is to offer people more choice at the point of