Organ Transplant: Challenges and Risks - Essay Sample

Introduction

An organ transplant refers to a surgical operation where a damaged or failing organ in the human body is extracted and substituted with an operative organ. The transplanted organ may come from a living or deceased donor. In some cases, transplants may not function with the receiver and donor, which may result in emotional trauma (Ingelfinger, 2005). After undergoing a stressful and challenging procedure with a person's body; if the transplant fails, it can affect the overall donation process (Martin et al., 2016). A debate has arisen to oppose organ transplantation, which has led to adverse effects. Some members of the society have a negative perspective regarding organ donation which consists of ethical issues, an increase in the black market, and the complication of the body and unprotected rights for physicians

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Unethical for Individuals

It is unethical for an individual to transplant the organs into the living as it makes some people feel uncomfortable (Roh, 2018). Transplanting organs to needy recipients often encounter other objections. First, the capricious extraction of a body part is unacceptable and mutilation. Individuals are stewards to their bodies and obliged not to use their bodies in detrimental methods (Antos & Zelman, 2016). Also, body mutilation by taking away a part is not allowed for any purpose, even if it is assisting someone's neighbour (Katz, A. L. (2017). Thus, it is essential to preserve the integrity of the entire body in which an organ belongs to the part. By comparison, the unconnected living donor lacks genetic relations to the recipient hence unethical as it makes an individual feel emotional (Modra and Hilton, 2018). The directed transplant to strangers infringes equity values, thus controversial.

Increase in Black Market

The black markets that deal with selling organs have increased graving an issue that comes from the advent of organ donation (Alpinar-Sencan et al., 2017). The illegal trade of organs has posed several problems for both the buyers and donors of the organs. The vendor, in some cases, ends up getting less cash for their kidneys than the agreed amount (Pauli et al., 2019). Also, they may not get the postoperative care they were guaranteed to receive hence facing higher medical risks after selling the kidney. For instance, most rural people in Pakistan have engaged themselves in the black market to pay their debts, which they do so through raping or killing individuals. Thus the critical unselfishness that motivates an individual to establish potential life-threatening sacrifice for a strange person calls for an alarm for inspection (Taylor, 2006). Transplantation experts have the accountability to assess potential donors in all areas and prohibit donations that incite disastrous issues (Truog, 2005). Directed transplant to a foreigner builds corresponding queries with a few additional concepts (Reichardt, 2018). Also, this type of donation occurs when a patient markets for an organ publicly, in newspapers, online, or television. However, the law does not prohibit such advertising, but it has been firmly rejected by transplantation professionals (Flemming et al., 2018). The two significant objections are that the exercise transplant is unfair, and it threatens the perception that the organs of a body are "gift of life" and not an item or product to be sold or bought (Meshelemiah & Lynch, 2019).

Complications of the Body

There are particular potentials of complications due to the performance of surgery done through organ donation from the body of a living individual. Some of these complications might include infection, blood clotting, and excessive bleeding (Ferguson et al., 2019). Also, these hampers the health situations, in the long run, depending on the organ of the live donor transplants, which might lead to adverse impacts as a result of an absence in the future (Sher & Zimbrean, 2017). For instance, if an individual donates one kidney, it may result in kidney failure or hypertension, whereas a lung donor may experience different respiratory disorders (Levvey & Snell 2016).

Unprotected Rights for Physicians

Unlike other organ donations in which the donor is alive during the operation period, heart transplants require the donor to be dead when removing the organ (Samuels, 2018). The fact raises the threshold question of when a donor is legally deceased (Ray, 2019). Hence a death definition must be formulated to guide the doctors who may be subject to criminal sanctions and civil liability if he removes the heart from a donor who is illegally dead (Block & Whitehead, 2019). Also, in all surgery types, both the living and transplant donor must present their informed, voluntary consent. The legal issue arises when there is an application of rescue doctrine where a donor under tort-feasor has a right to live if placed to danger by the negligence of another individual (Entenza-Escobar, 2016). Through the use of this doctrine, a physician may face legal charges by the law due to the donor's death. Hence the medics are not protected by any law during organ transplants.

Conclusion

In summation, organ donation has negative consequences to a nation as it involves diverse impacts. Surgical complications can comprise injury to tissues, allergic reactions to anesthesia, infection, blood loss, and clot pain, which may even lead to death. Cadaveric transplant is challenging as the availability of the organs means that a person has to die. Also, there exists no law to protect the physicians during transplantation hence requiring them to ensure quality care and safety of both parties. The rise in the black market for Pakistan for organs and deservingness issues has shown a negative result in society. Limited international oversight and legislation of organ transplant and donation have facilitated the trafficking dilemma of the organ.

References

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Sher, Y., & Zimbrean, P. (2017). Psychiatric aspects of organ transplantation in critical care: an update. Critical care clinics, 33(3), 659-679.

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