Scarcity of Medical Resources
For this assessment, you will continue your survey of ethical principles in health care. Especially in our contemporary world, where needs for health care outstrip available resources, we regularly face decisions about who should get which resources.There is a serious shortage of donor organs. Need vastly outstrips supply, due not only to medical advances related to organ transplantation, but also because not enough people consent to be cadaveric donors (an organ donor who has already died). Munson (2014) points out that in the United States, approximately 10,000 patients die each year because an organ donor was not available, which is three times the number of people killed in the terrorist attacks on 9/11.But what is an efficient and morally sound solution to this problem? The policy of presumed consent, where enacted, has scarcely increased supply, and other alternatives, such as allowing donors to sell their organs, raise strong moral objections. In light of this, some have advocated for a policy of conscription of cadaveric organs (Spital & Erin, 2002). This involves removing organs from the recently deceased without first obtaining consent of the donor or his or her family. Proponents of this policy argue that conscription would not only vastly increase the number of available organs, and hence save many lives, but that it is also more efficient and less costly than policies requiring prior consent. Finally, because with a conscription policy all people would share the burden of providing organs after death and all would stand to benefit should the need arise, the policy is fair and just.
Demonstration of Proficiency
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:
- Competency 1: Articulate ethical issues in health care.
- Articulate the moral concerns surrounding a policy of organ conscription.
- Articulate questions about the fairness and justness of organ conscription policy.
- Explain the relevance and significance of the concept of consent as it pertains to organ donation.
- Evaluate alternative policies for increasing available donor organs.
- Competency 5: Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and respectful of the diversity, dignity, and integrity of others and is consistent with health care professionals.
- Exhibit proficiency in clear and effective academic writing skills.
References
Munson, R. (2014). Intervention and reflection: Basic issues in bioethics (concise ed.). Boston, MA: Wadsworth.Spital, A., & Erin, C. (2002). Conscription of cadaveric organs for transplantation: Let’s at least talk about it. American Journal of Kidney Disease, 39(3), 611–615.
Instructions
Do you consider the policy of organ conscription to be morally sound?Write a paper that answers this question, defending that answer with cogent moral reasoning and supporting your view with ethical theories or moral principles you take to be most relevant to the issue. In addition to reviewing the suggested resources, you are encouraged to locate additional resources in the Capella library, your public library, or authoritative online sites to provide additional support for your viewpoint. Be sure to weave and cite the resources throughout your work.In your paper, address the following:
- On what grounds could one argue that consent is not ethically required for conscription of cadaveric organs? And on what grounds could one argue that consent is required?
- Is the policy truly just and fair, as supporters claim? Explain.
- Do you consider one of the alternative policies for increasing available donor organs that Munson discusses to be preferable to conscription? Explain why or why not.
Submission Requirements
- Written communication: Written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message.
- APA formatting: Resources and citations are formatted according to current APA style and formatting guidelines.
- Length: 2–3 typed, double-spaced pages.
- Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.
- Competency 1: Articulate ethical issues in health care.
SCORING GUIDE
Use the scoring guide to understand how your assessment will be evaluated.VIEW SCORING GUIDE
CRITERIA NON-PERFORMANCE BASIC PROFICIENT DISTINGUISHED Articulate the moral concerns surrounding a policy of organ conscription. Does not articulate the moral concerns surrounding a policy of organ conscription. Articulates the moral concerns surrounding a policy of organ conscription, but in an unclear, incomplete, or inaccurate manner. Articulates the moral concerns surrounding a policy of organ conscription. Analyzes the moral concerns surrounding a policy of organ conscription, and compares and contrasts examples of organ donation policies. Articulate questions about the fairness and justness of organ conscription policy. Does not articulate questions about the fairness and justness of organ conscription policy Articulates questions about the fairness and justness of organ conscription policy, but in an unclear, incomplete, or inaccurate manner. Articulates questions about the fairness and justness of organ conscription policy. Evaluates questions about the fairness and justness of organ conscription policy, and recommends strategies for increasing public acceptance. Explain the relevance and significance of the concept of consent as it pertains to organ donation. Does not explain the relevance and significance of the concept of consent as it pertains to organ donation. Explains the relevance and significance of the concept of consent as it pertains to organ donation, but in an unclear, incomplete, or inaccurate manner. Explains the relevance and significance of the concept of consent as it pertains to organ donation. Explains the relevance and significance of the concept of consent as it pertains to organ donation, and describes consequences when donor consent is absent. Evaluate alternative policies for increasing available donor organs. Does not evaluate alternative policies for increasing available donor organs. Evaluates alternative policies for increasing available donor organs, but in an unclear, incomplete, or inaccurate manner. Evaluates alternative policies for increasing available donor organs. Evaluates alternative policies for increasing available donor organs, and describes consequences of continued donor organ shortages. Exhibit proficiency in clear and effective academic writing skills. Does not exhibit proficiency in clear and effective academic writing skills. Writes in an ineffective and inconsistent manner that does not exhibit effective academic writing skills or deliver the message clearly. Exhibits proficiency in clear and effective academic writing skills. Exhibits proficiency in clear and effective academic writing skills, and ensures the writing reflects the quality and expertise expected of a professional.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction: The scarcity of medical resources, particularly donor organs, poses a significant ethical challenge in healthcare. This assessment requires a critical evaluation of the policy of organ conscription as a solution to the shortage of donor organs. The paper will evaluate the ethical concerns and moral principles surrounding the policy and assess whether it is a reasonable solution to the problem.
1. On what grounds could one argue that consent is not ethically required for conscription of cadaveric organs? And on what grounds could one argue that consent is required?
One could argue that consent is not ethically required for conscription of cadaveric organs based on the utilitarian principle of maximizing benefits to society. The policy seeks to save as many lives as possible by increasing the number of donor organs available. Removing organs without consent could also be seen as a way of fulfilling the deceased’s presumed wishes to be an organ donor, as consent is often presumed in other areas, such as the donation of tissues or organs that do not affect the donor’s life. On the other hand, one could argue that consent is required based on the principle of autonomy and respect for the rights of the individual. Individuals have the right to control what is done with their bodies, even after death, and therefore, the policy of conscription may violate this right.
2. Is the policy truly just and fair, as supporters claim? Explain.
The policy of conscription is not just and fair as it violates individual rights and autonomy. The policy forces individuals to donate their organs without their consent or the consent of their family members, even if they had opposed organ donation during their lifetime. Additionally, the policy disproportionately affects individuals with little social capital, such as those from marginalized communities, who are more likely to be drafted for organ donation. Lastly, the policy does not address the underlying issue of the shortage of donor organs, which is a result of inadequate awareness and education about organ donation. As such, it would be more just and fair to promote awareness and incentivize voluntary organ donation.
3. Do you consider one of the alternative policies for increasing available donor organs that Munson discusses to be preferable to conscription? Explain why or why not.
One of the alternative policies discussed by Munson that is preferable to conscription is the opt-out policy. Under this policy, individuals are presumed to be willing to donate their organs unless they explicitly opt-out. This policy addresses the issue of the shortage of donor organs by increasing the number of potential donors, while still respecting individual autonomy and rights. Additionally, the policy encourages individuals to be more proactive in their decisions regarding organ donation, as they must explicitly opt-out if they are opposed to donation. Overall, the opt-out policy is a fair and just solution that seeks to maximize the benefits of organ donation while respecting individual rights and autonomy.
