Living Donation by Individuals with Life-Limiting Conditions

J Law Med Ethics. 2019 Mar;47(1):112-122. doi: 10.1177/1073110519840490.

Abstract

The traditional living donor was very healthy. However, as the supply-demand gap continues to expand, transplant programs have become more accepting of less healthy donors. This paper focuses on the other extreme, asking whether and when individuals who have life-limiting conditions (LLC) should be considered for living organ donation. We discuss ethical issues raised by 1) donation by individuals with progressive severe debilitating disease for whom there is no ameliorative therapy; and 2) donation by individuals who are imminently dying or would die by the donation process itself.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Humans
  • Kidney Transplantation / ethics*
  • Living Donors / ethics*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Netherlands / epidemiology
  • Tissue and Organ Procurement / ethics*
  • United States / epidemiology