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UNIT 2: ETHICAL ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION
Organs, cells, and appendages can all be transplanted. Some transplantation procedures have become routine; some remain experimental; others are still fraught with problems. The ethical issues that arise in the field of transplantation are numerous. Is the body a commodity?can it be bought? How should decisions be made on distributing scarce organs? When several healthy organs are available, should they all go to one person or should several needy people each receive just one? Should a person in whom a transplant has failed be given a second organ, or should a different person have a first chance? Should individuals who have abused their bodies through smoking, drinking, or diet receive new organs, or should organs only be given to those whose organs were damaged by illness? Is it appropriate to spend money, time, and energy transplanting hands and other appendages that are not essential to life? Who can "donate" the organs of individuals who are unable to give consent? Is it possible to prevent coercion of donors? When should the courts get involved in organ donation decisions? The questions go on and on.
The case studies in this unit have medical, ethical, international, social, legal, cultural, technological, and economic overtones. Although few teens want to think about their own mortality, every teen who applies for a driver's license in the United States now actually is asked to do just that. The purpose of this unit is not specifically to help students answer the question "Will you be an organ donor?" But classroom discussions generated by this unit will help students understand what's at stake and make more informed decisions for themselves.
The field of transplantation is rife with euphemisms?donation, harvesting, transplanting, receiving and giving gifts. These gardening and gift-giving images contribute a strong nonmedical mystique to the transactions. As they discuss transplantation, students will also sense the power and deceitfulness of language.
Read a Sample Text from Unit 2 (Chapter 4: Donation or Coercion?)
Read the Full Text of Unit 2 (Must have Alumni/Alumnae Access to read the Unit)
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