PHI-FPX3200 Assessment 4 The Relevance and Significance of Consent as it Pertains to Organ Donation

The autonomy principle indicates that individuals have the capacity to make objective decisions. The absence of consent undermines moral obligations because it denies individuals the freedom to make independent choices. Organ conscription may involve an implied consent, which means that the stakeholders make a presumption about a deceased consent (Vanholder et al., 2021). However, such situations contradict the need for trustworthy physician-patient relationship. The implied consent triggers resentment due to the disregard for individuals’ values and preferences.

Alternative Policies for Increasing Available Donor Organs

Alternatives for increasing available donor organs should focus more on public policy and regulatory changes. The message to the public is inadequate, which reveals the need for awareness programs to ensure that more people remember their commitment to supporting organ donation (Etheredge, 2021). The message should make individuals aware of the fact that organ shortage is a health crisis, the body is a unique source of health for everyone, and organ donation is about sharing life. Collaboration between education institutions, researchers, and organ sharing firms is necessary to improve social behavior toward organ donation. Financial incentives may also facilitate organ donation (Levy, 2018). Ethical compensation reflect concern for patients and the efforts to save lives. Expanding donors through presumed consent and financial incentives may encourage more potential donors to embrace efforts to save millions from premature death (Parada‑Contzen & Vásquez‑Lavín, 2019). The process may involve including donors with suboptimal organs, including old donors and individuals with hepatitis C. Advancements in the treatment of various conditions call for changes in acceptance criteria for donors.

Conclusion

An increasing number of patients in the waiting list and organ shortages shows the need for alternatives to increase available donor organs. Advances in medical practices and policies should generate new incentives and programs that modify society’s attitudes toward organ donation.

References

Etheredge, H. R. (2021). Assessing global organ donation policies: Opt-in vs opt-out. Risk Management and Healthcare Policy, 14, 1985-1998. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8128443/pdf/rmhp-14-1985.pdf