Within the 21st century, organ donations and transplantations have made many major medical improvements. The organ donation process however, involves various difficult ethical issues. The biggest issue today is the shortage of organ donations (Butts & Rich, 2013). This issue has inspired ethical principles, debates, and medical improvements to resolve the supply and demand problem. The purpose of this paper will be to explore the ethical issues behind the organ allocation of two organ candidates in end stage liver disease presented in a case study of the work of Butts and Rich (2013).
There are several ethical principles today due to the numerous problems facing organ transplantation. According to Butt and Rich (2013), the main issue with …show more content…
According to Butts and Rich (2013), the first ethical principle is the medical entitlement method. This method involves treating the sickest patient first. In the case study, Mr. Mann is currently in the hospital because his condition is deteriorating. Mrs. Day is extremely sick also, but is not requiring hospitalization at this time. According to this principle, Mr. Mann has the right to the organ transplantation before Mrs. Day. The second principle to organ transplantation is the fairness principle. This principle involves first- come, first-served. In the case study, Mrs. Day is ahead of Mr. Mann on the waiting list; therefore, she will receive the organ transplantation. The third method is the social worth principle. This method embraces an individual’s personal characteristics. Mr. Mann has been an alcoholic since high school, this shows self-destructive behavior. Mrs. Day is involved in her community and is loved by her family. According to the social worth principle, Mrs. Day should receive the liver due to less self-destructive choices. The fourth approach is the utilitarian- consequential perspective. This principle allows the person with the best success rate and long-term survival to receive the organ. Mrs. Day’s diagnosis of hepatitis B leads to wide-ranging success rates. Mr. Mann’s diagnosis of alcoholic cirrhosis increases his success rate with a new liver. Mr. Mann is at the maximum age for organ transplantation, however. The last ethical principle by Butts and Rich (2013) is proximity. This principle takes into account the individual who is closest to the hospital. According to this principle, Mr. Mann will receive the liver due to the fact that he is already at the hospital. When making the correct ethical decision, all five principles must be taken into account (Butts & Rich,
There are several ethical principles today due to the numerous problems facing organ transplantation. According to Butt and Rich (2013), the main issue with …show more content…
According to Butts and Rich (2013), the first ethical principle is the medical entitlement method. This method involves treating the sickest patient first. In the case study, Mr. Mann is currently in the hospital because his condition is deteriorating. Mrs. Day is extremely sick also, but is not requiring hospitalization at this time. According to this principle, Mr. Mann has the right to the organ transplantation before Mrs. Day. The second principle to organ transplantation is the fairness principle. This principle involves first- come, first-served. In the case study, Mrs. Day is ahead of Mr. Mann on the waiting list; therefore, she will receive the organ transplantation. The third method is the social worth principle. This method embraces an individual’s personal characteristics. Mr. Mann has been an alcoholic since high school, this shows self-destructive behavior. Mrs. Day is involved in her community and is loved by her family. According to the social worth principle, Mrs. Day should receive the liver due to less self-destructive choices. The fourth approach is the utilitarian- consequential perspective. This principle allows the person with the best success rate and long-term survival to receive the organ. Mrs. Day’s diagnosis of hepatitis B leads to wide-ranging success rates. Mr. Mann’s diagnosis of alcoholic cirrhosis increases his success rate with a new liver. Mr. Mann is at the maximum age for organ transplantation, however. The last ethical principle by Butts and Rich (2013) is proximity. This principle takes into account the individual who is closest to the hospital. According to this principle, Mr. Mann will receive the liver due to the fact that he is already at the hospital. When making the correct ethical decision, all five principles must be taken into account (Butts & Rich,