Debate: Seeking donor-organs

In this workshop we will discuss two strategies for finding donor-organs from strangers in rich or poor circumstances.

“Our mother is a generous wife and mother of two. She is a genuine & kind-hearted soul, who always does all she can to help those in need of her kindness.” “If you are reading this profile you are a special individual who is contemplating giving the greatest gift of all - the gift of a life restored.” These are two opening sentences of ads that were placed on matchingdonors.com. If the patients for whom these ads were placed are lucky, and manage to move a generous stranger with their personal histories, they can circumvent the UNOS-waiting list. Although it can help some patients, this use of media to find organ-donors also raises ethical questions; is it a good system, does it lead to new inequalities, what to think of the emphasis on generosity?

Another controversial system we will discuss is that of ‘rewarded gifting’ proposed by the Philippine bio-ethicist de Castro as a better alternative to the existing black organ market. De Castro suggests that since black organ-markets exist, it would be better if there were a regulated market, in which the interests of donors and recipients are met rather then those of organ-brokers, surgeons or other intermediaries involved. After a sketch of these two strategies, we would like to discuss them with you.