The importance of ethic in the field of human tissue banking (original) (raw)
The Importance of a Code of Ethics and a Code of Practice for Tissue Establishments
Legal Basis of Global Tissue Banking
While there are inescapable acts of individual judgment involved in ethical decisions, nevertheless, it is desirable that conclusions should be reached in ways that result in as consistent a practice as possible. A way of achieving this in a given area of activity is to formulate a code of ethics and a code of practice providing general guidelines within which individual decisions are to be made. A code of ethics is a basic presentation of principles and ideals and has a regulatory, educational and cultural integration function. A code of practice is a detailed description of the actions that are to be performed and not performed, and of the sanctions that attach to non-performance. A code of ethics has two aspects: a) the content comprising the requirements, rules, principles, ideals, and so forth; and b) the commitment of the members of an organisation to conform to, and otherwise uphold, those rules and ideals. The commitment to that content on the part of the members of the organisation consists of an oath or promise or other kind of undertaking that each member has given to adhere to the code . A code of ethics is a good place for members of an organisation to signal their commitment to the basic laws, and thus basic moral standards of their community, including the principle of individual autonomy. With the purpose of ensuring respect to the human being and the deserved dignity and autonomy , each State should have in force a code of ethics and a code of practice with the purpose of applying it to all tissue banking activities carried out in the country.
Ethical Issues in Organ Transplantation
Medical Principles and Practice, 2003
Clinical organ transplantation has been recognized as one of the most gripping medical advances of the century as it provides a way of giving the gift of life to patients with terminal failure of vital organs, which requires the participation of other fellow human beings and of society by donating organs from deceased or living individuals. The increasing incidence of vital organ failure and the inadequate supply of organs, especially from cadavers, has created a wide gap between organ supply and organ demand, which has resulted in very long waiting times to receive an organ as well as an increasing number of deaths while waiting. These events have raised many ethical, moral and societal issues regarding supply, the methods of organ allocation, the use of living donors as volunteers including minors. It has also led to the practice of organ sale by entrepreneurs for financial gains in some parts the world through exploitation of the poor, for the benefit of the wealthy. The current advances in immunology and tissue engineering and the use of animal organs, xenotransplantation, while offering very promising solutions to many of these problems, also raise additional ethical and medical issues which must be considered by the medical profession as well as society. This review deals with the ethical and moral issues generated by the current advances in organ transplantation, the problem of organ supply versus organ demand and the appropriate allocation of available organs. It deals with the risks and benefits of organ donation from living donors, the appropriate and acceptable methods to increase organ donation from the deceased through the adoption of the principle of 'presumed consent', the right methods of providing acceptable appreciation and compensation for the family of the deceased as well as volunteer and altruistic donors, and the duties and responsibilities of the medical profession and society to help fellow humans. The review also deals with the appropriate and ethically acceptable ways of utilizing the recent advances of stem cell transplantation from adult versus fetal donors, tissue engineering and the use of organs from animals or xenotransplantation. Data provided in support of the concept that clinical organ and tissue transplantation can be more beneficial and life saving if everyone involved in the process, including physicians and medical institutions, respect and consider the best interests of the patients, as well as honor the ethical, moral and religious values of society and are not tempted to seek personal fame or financial rewards.
Ethics in Organ Transplantation
Acta Facultatis Medicae Naissensis, 2018
Organ transplantation is specific medical procedure which is used as a way of treatment. Transplantation is often the only way of curing a patient. Today, hundreds of people in the world live successfully with donor organs, and transplantations as medical interventions are performed routinely. In Europe, about 10,000 patients are saved annually by transplantation, but there are far larger numbers of those waiting for their so-called rescue organ. In all countries, transplant medicine is regulated by special laws, regulations and conventions that provide medical, legal, and ethical regulations. Organ donation is an act of charity and giving, and not a contract on movement. Righteousness and fairness are emphasized in transplantation medicine. The question of organ transplanting affects the most intimate issues of human integrity, human dignity, health and illness. That is why certain instructions, rules of conduct and treatment are required from ethics. Today, in ethical dilemmas reg...
International Journal of Transplantation Research and Medicine, 2019
The donation of human tissues and organs increases significantly when tissue banks and organ transplant organizations work together in the procurement of human organs and tissues at donor sources (hospitals, coroners’ system, organ procurement agencies, and funeral homes, among others). To achieve this vital goal, national competent health authorities should consider the establishment of a mechanism that promotes the broadest possible cooperation between tissue banks and organ transplant organizations operating in the country with all available donor sources. One of the issues that can facilitate the above-mentioned cooperation is the adoption of all necessary laws and regulations to support the establishment of a national central office in charge of the procurement of human tissues and organs within the country, to consider the possibility of the establishment or designation of a national central office to act as regional office in charge of the coordination and cooperation among t...
Transplant ethics under scrutiny – responsibilities of all medical professionals
Croatian Medical Journal, 2013
In this text, we present and elaborate ethical challenges in transplant medicine related to organ procurement and organ distribution, together with measures to solve such challenges. Based on internationally acknowledged ethical standards, we looked at cases of organ procurement and distribution practices that deviated from such ethical standards. One form of organ procurement is known as commercial organ trafficking, while in China the organ procurement is mostly based on executing prisoners, including killing of detained Falun Gong practitioners for their organs. Efforts from within the medical community as well as from governments have contributed to provide solutions to uphold ethical standards in medicine. The medical profession has the responsibility to actively promote ethical guidelines in medicine to prevent a decay of ethical standards and to ensure best medical practices.
The number of tissue and organ donation increases significantly when tissue banks and organ transplant organizations work together in the procurement of organs and tissues at donor sources (hospital, coroners system, organ procurement agencies, and funeral homes, among others). To achieve this important goal, national competent health authorities should considered the establishment of a mechanism that promote the widest possible cooperation between tissue banks and organ transplant organizations operating in the country with hospitals, research medical institutions, universities, and other medical institutions and facilities. One of the issues that can facilitate this cooperation is the establishment of a coding and traceability system that could identify all tissues and organs used in transplant activities carried out in any country.
Organ donation and transplantation medicine: Ethical framework and solutions
2015
Advances in surgery and the introduction of drugs that suppress the immune system have paved the way for transplantation medicine. Today, the donation and transplantation of tissues and organs (including heart, kidney, liver, lung, pancreas, cornea, bone marrow, and face) are feasible. Transplantation medicine has created new areas of ethical and legal discussion. In these discussions, four principles generally accepted in medical ethics – beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, and justice – have featured in their different aspects. In particular, the principles of non-maleficence and autonomy can collide. The dramatic increase in the number of people waiting for an organ shows that any deadlock on this subject means the death of many; hence, it is important to find a solution appropriate to the values held in society. In this study discussing current transplantation methods throughout the world, basic ethical dilemmas are addressed and effective solutions sought in accordance with ethical perspectives.
2021
In human life, organ donation and transplantation is one of the most significant importance to extend functional life and support quality of life. Also, this process is not related exclusively to medical teams, but relates to general society because the sources for this process are only human due to ethical and legal issues. The process requires ethical and legal consideration, because it presents many challenges and risks to society and the medical community. The aim of this paper is to consider the advantages of transplantation for human life. It considers the controversy surrounding the ethical and legal considerations, from the concept of brain death (brain-dead donor) and the market for human organs (living donor). The operation of organ donation and transplantation are very complex and sensitive because it directly relates to human life. There should be more careful observation and diagnosis by the medical team during the donation process and the transplantation process.
LEGAL OBLIGATIONS IN THE CONTEXT OF HUMAN ORGANS AND TISSUES TRANSPLANTATION
LEGAL OBLIGATIONS IN THE CONTEXT OF HUMAN ORGANS AND TISSUES TRANSPLANTATION, 2022
The aim: To highlight and analyze the nature of certain legal obligations occuring in the process of human organs and tissues transplantation, in particular, the following obligations: compliance with regulatory and medical requirements for organ and human tissues transplantation, obtaining the donor's consent for organs and tissues transplantation, organs or tissues transplantation on a non-commercial basis. Materials and methods: Methodologically, this work is based on the system of methods, scientific approaches, techniques and principles with the help of which the realization of the research aim is carried out. There have been applied universal, general scientific and special legal methods. Conclusions: Analyzed regulatory and medical requirements, indicate the complexity of the transplant process, as well as the need for strict compliance with established regulations and rules. For the whole complex transplant procedure, one of the key points is the donor's consent (disagreement) to remove anatomical materials from him. The obligation to perform organ or tissue transplantation on a non-commercial basis has a dual purpose: first, to prevent offenses and legal violations in this area; secondly, to determine as transparently and clearly as possible the list of costs incurred by the donor in connection with the organs and tissues removal and subject to reimbursement, the procedure for such reimbursement and its reasonable, acceptable and sufficient amount.