Ethics of Organ Procurement

Kentucky Organ Donation Affiliates 

How KODA is Able to improve the rate of organ transplant 

Kentucky’s mission statement reads, “To provide organ and tissue to those in need and to maintain a profound respect for those who gave.” By communicating its key mission and creating awareness of organ transplant, KODA is able to improve on the rate of organ transplant. Kentucky is committed to saving lives by way of tissue and organ transplantation and donation. The facility was established to form a statewide procurement and educational network. The organization was founded in 1987 and has a presence in 114 counties. It is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and is a member of the United Network of Organ Sharing. The organization was selected by the United States Department of Health and Human Services. 

Introduction to Organ Donation and KODA 

Organ donation entails the removal of a tissue or organ from an individual (donor) and putting it into another individual (recipient). The act of transplanting is essential since the recipient’s organ has been damaged or failed due to injury or disease. It remains as one of the greatest developments in contemporary medicine. With the high number of deaths attributed to organ failure, the need for an organ transplant is very high. United States Department of Health and Human Services approximates that 21 people succumb to death as they wait for organs and over 120,000 people are waiting for a transplant. Various body organs can be transplanted ( Venkat et al., 2014) . They include kidney, liver, heart, lung, pancreas, skin, cornea, and heart valves. Others include connective tissues, bone marrow, middle ear, and intestine ( Daly, 2006) . Other structures that can be transplanted include muscles, bone, blood vessels, and nerves. All people of all ages stand as potential donors. 

KODA and Benefits of Organ Donation 

Transplantation is important as it saves lives and gives others the opportunity to live a healthy life. KODA emphasizes that transplantation has in the past three years saved thousands of lives. Donor transplant also transforms lives. For example, one donor can save and transform the lives of over ten people. Thus healthcare providers have the professional obligation to engage potential donors on exactly what organ donation entails. Majority of the public do not understand the primary concepts of organ donation and often rely on secondary sources for information. At the same time, professional healthcare providers need to enact and communicate a public policy that promotes transplanting by way of using state incentives such as monitoring instruments that those individuals having the likelihood of donating. Through incentives, healthcare providers and the state can express their gratitude towards the society and the recipient as well. Other incentives healthcare providers and the state can enact include tax benefits, discounts, covering funeral expenses, and allocation priority. 

Professionals Obligations 

Healthcare providers also have the obligation to dispel the fear often spread and held by individuals who understand little about organ transplant. Often, the majority of people do not volunteer for an organ transplant for the simple reason of fear of the unknown and rumors spread around about donating one’s organ ( Venkat et al., 2014) . This will go a long way on equipping potential donors with the right knowledge and awareness of donor transplant as a necessary health initiative. As a voluntary exercise, individuals can be at a position to make independent decisions as regards to their willingness to donate an organ. 

Family Wishes 

There are various factors that impede organ donation. They include a lack of sufficient information, personal values and principles, family issues, and religious beliefs. However, KODA singles out family obstruction as one of the greatest obstacles to organ donation. Often families believe that they have a strong say and opinion on organ donation in the case a family member commits to donating. Often family members hold it that they have the final say on issues to do with organ donation. 

Families Overriding the Desire to Donate 

However, as a voluntary decision and act, family members should not be an impediment to organ donation in the case all the necessary paperwork have been signed and agreed upon by the donor. The family’s intrusion should not be an obstacle since as a voluntary act; organ donation is a process that entails numerous steps before one commits to it ( Venkat et al., 2014 ). For example, the person needs to undertake a wide consultation before committing to donating. This may also involve informing the family in addition to undertaking a professional decision on the same. Thus, a family should not stand in the way for organ transplant especially in the case the donor volunteered willingly. 

Problems of KODA overriding family wishes 

However, going by the donor's wishes and overriding the family may expose the organization such as KODA to numerous legal challenges in case the family decides to take legal action against the organization. Even though the process could be legal, families may find ways to engage the legal process in understanding the implications. Law bodies may also decide to find loopholes and inconsistencies in the entire process to find a way of taking legal action against the institution ( Venkat et al., 2014) . This has the potential of damaging the reputation of the organization in addition to impacting on negatively on its efforts towards organ donation in the society. 

Benefits of Over-riding family wishes 

One benefit of over-riding a family’s decision on organ transplant is reinforcing the donor’s wishes and helping the society realize that the entire exercise of organ transplant is a voluntary exercise devoid of forceful commitment. As a legally binding decision, the institution will have the opportunity to clear the air on thorny and often misunderstood concepts of organ donation. 

Organ transplant is an important medical advancement that is aimed at transforming and changing lives. I trust that organ donation is a safe and ethically important medical procedure that is aimed at helping others who may be faced with different health complications requiring organ change in the body. I believe donation should be voluntary and should not be overridden by family. In offering to donate an organ, an individual helps those in need by transforming their lives for the better. Transplants help recipients’ live better and enhanced healthy lives and are a way of making society a good place. 

References 

Daly, B. J. (2006). End-of-life decision making, organ donation, and critical care nurses.  Critical Care Nurse ,  26 (2), 78-86. 

Venkat, A., Baker, E. F., & Schears, R. M. (2014). Ethical controversies surrounding the management of potential organ donors in the emergency department.  The Journal of emergency medicine ,  47 (2), 232-236.