Tuesday, February 6, 2018

"The Post-Mortem People" And Ethics?

Prior to reading The Post-Mortem People short story, please read/discuss/review the following medical articles taken from The New England Journal Of Medicine- Ethics Of Organ Donation; DDR And The Future Of Organ Donation. What are your thoughts? How do these articles make you think about ethics? Please respond and react to your class discussion and individual thinking. This blog response is due by 2:30p.m. on February 7th.

27 comments:

  1. After reading the two articles and thinking about what they were about I think that it is safe to say that people should donate their organs if they are close to death. I don't think there is any harm in at least trying to donate your organs if you are already on your death bed. You are helping someone that could live a longer life. Does one have to have good morals in order to donate organs? I don't think so. People should just do it. There is absolutely no reason not to. If one was to become brain dead why wouldn't they donate their organs? One cannot live if their brain is dead so why not help someone who can live.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Both of these articles show reasonable and realistic points of view regarding organ donation. The "Ethics Of Organ Donation" article brings up a good point that doctors are forced to risk the life of their patients while trying to save other patients and victims. In my opinion, I think that there is a lot of need for organ donations and at this point there are not enough people dying for all of the people who need these organs, which can be considered a good thing. I think that once medicine becomes more advanced and more research is done, donating organisms while a person is still living will grow more popular as it becomes safer. The other article, titled "DDR And The Future Of Organ Donation" showed how the decisions to donate one's are up to the family or the individual and some possible scenarios that doctors and families could encounter. In my opinion, I think that the decision to donate one's organs should be up to the patient if they are medically competent to make these decisions, and if not, I think that the family should now be able to make the decision, similar to the current laws. The article mentioned that in one case several doctors refused to operate on this patient, which I disagree with. I don’t think that the doctors should be able to question the decision of the family and that they should only offer their medical advice. The article also mentioned a case where a man seemed mentally unfit to make these decisions, and in this case, I think that the hospitals and doctors do need to make sure that these donors and mentally fit to make these decisions. Overall, I think that the ethics of organ donors should not be questioned if they are mentally fit and their wishes are to donate their organs.

    ReplyDelete
  3. After reading the two articles I came to a conclusion,donating your organs after or when you are close to death is reasonable. The ethical reasoning behind donating organs is giving someone a chance to live a longer life than they would have if the transplant was to never happen. As long as the organ donors are about to be or already dead than there is no harm in having this procedure done. Being a organ donor is a helpful and in my opinion an ethical practice because you are helping a person live longer that expected.

    ReplyDelete
  4. After reading these articles, I think that people should be organ donors no matter what. It's kind of a selfish thing to not donate them. Yeah, it's a scary thing to think about you being cut open and having your organs cut out. But honestly, you're dead anyways so you won't feel anything. I think it's worth donating your organs because you can help people around you to live longer. If you can help people live longer, then you should do it. I'm sure if you needed an organ, you would want more people to be organ donors. I don't think people's ethnics should be questioned.

    ReplyDelete
  5. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  6. After reading these two articles, I think that donation is a great Idea, and saving another life through one dying is such a great thing to do. I also think that donating one kidney or something is such an honorable thing to do, but also dangerous for the the donator, but I think people wold be willing to take that risk. I would.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I think that if someone wants to donate their organs, they should be able to. I understand the argument brought up in the articles that a living person wanting to donate their organs should not feel coerced into doing so. However, I like the idea of giving them an out. I also agree that a healthy person's life should not be risked in order for them to donate. If there are potential safety issues regarding their health, then I don't think it should be done. This is an issue that is not black and white; the line is not clear.

    ReplyDelete
  8. After reading both articles I think that it is okay to donate organs if you are close to dying. It really does not do any harm and we are in need of organ donors. I don't really like the idea of picking and choosing where your organs are going unless you know the person. I don't think you should donate your organs to someone just because of there race or religion that to me is very unethical.

    ReplyDelete
  9. After reading the two articles I believe that the person donating should be able to make the decision on whether to donate or organs or not. I don't think someone else should make the decision for you. Yes it is a good idea to help someone live a longer better life. But, after all it is YOUR body and organs so it should be the person donating that makes the decision.

    ReplyDelete
  10. After reading both of these articles I feel it is okay and safe to donate organs even if you are not about to die. The organs you could donate could save a more important life and if you are about to die I don't see a problem with trying to donate a organ.Everyone should try and donate even if nothing is wrong. It's better to have give something then not have done anything.

    ReplyDelete
  11. In my opinion, the Dead Donor Rule could both help and hinder in regards to the person getting the organ(s).

    While it would be good to get the organ(s) of someone who died as they wouldn't be needing them, what determines how long someone can be dead for and still remain a donor? I don't think I would want to be donated the organs of a person who has been dead for a long time.

    I don't see an issue with the ethics of organ donation. The donor obliged to give their organ(s) away. (Unless those organs were put up on a black market, obviously.)

    ReplyDelete
  12. After reading the two articles, I feel like organ donation walks a very fine line. On one hand if a healthy person is giving up one of their organs to better or save someone else's life, then it has a positive effect. On the other hand, the healthy person could have complications during their surgery and they could pass away, affecting the person in need of the organ. So it can go many different ways, and sometimes it won't work out. I feel like if you are donating an organ and you are healthy, then you are taking a risk. But I don't think someone should be stopped from donating their organs because it is their body and what they want to do.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I think the ethics of organ donation have many risk factors and reasonable causes. Doctors are risking life of a person to save someone else so they need to make sure the families are OK and that the organs are in fact in tact. I also found it odd how some doctors didn't want to operate but perhaps that's because they can see the risk factors, However if the family is in desperation and willing to pay these doctors should do what their obligated to do as medical professionals. They need to save a life and if someone is willing to donate an organ to save then let them.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I believe that both articles have valid points about the twistings and turnings of organ donation, especially in the “Ethics of Organ Donation” article where they mention someone possibly feeling coerced into donating. Personally, I am an organ donor on my driver’s license and if my friend or family member needed a kidney, liver or lung lobe, I can almost guarantee that I would donate to them. Also, if I died in an accident I would hope someone could receive the organs I no longer need. I understand the ethicists point that advertising for donations is wrong but I don’t agree. Yes organ donation is a “gift of life” but denying the ability to ask for a donation is pretentious. A family with a child who needs a kidney should not be stopped from asking by an ethicist who doesn’t like their methods. I also understand the need for total bodily autonomy and if someone does not consent to having their organs donated, then under no circumstances should the organs be donated. We offer bodily autonomy to every adult citizen in the country, living or dead. Also, if someone wishes to donate their organs then they should be allowed to under the same rule of bodily autonomy. I believe in a person’s choice in every aspect of their body and their healthcare so I don’t see a problem with consensual organ donation.

    ReplyDelete
  15. After reading the articles I think that organ donation is extremely important to consider when someone is in need of a transplant. I know that organ transplants are so important and on demand right now. People everywhere need organs but there are not enough people dying to produce organs for other people and some people don't like the idea of giving up parts of your body. In both articles there are reasons to give your organs when your alive and dead, in the The Ethics of Organ Donation by Living Donors article it talks about a man who wants to give everything away but he is still alive. The man wnts to help people who are in need of a transplant but at what value? After you are dead they know if you want to donate organs or not, both articles say that giving is the best thing you can do to prolong other peoples lives.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I thought that the views on organ donation in both of the articles was reasonable and I could see all of the different sides of organ donation. Personally, I think that you should be able to donate your organs if you are doing it for a good reason and if you will be able to live after donating. If you are already about to die or are brain dead you should also be able to donate your organs. There is no reason not to donate your organs if you could potentially help someone else live longer when you are already practically dead or about to die. If the person is brain dead I feel like the family should be able to decide to donate the organs if they so choose. For those who aren’t close to dying, I feel like they should be able to donate organs if they are doing it just to help the person and not as a way to harm their self or just get attention. I also think that they should only be able to donate if they will actually continue living afterward. A few months ago, my aunt’s friend Karen donated about ⅔ of her kidney to a close family friend in college who was low on the donation list and wasn’t going to make it much longer. However she did lots of tests and things to make sure that it most likely wouldn’t harm her, which it didn't.

    ReplyDelete
  17. After reading both articles, I believe that donating organs is basically benign, and I feel that it would be even better if a person who is struggling/close to death would donate their organs rather than another person who still has their life ahead of them. Some beneficial effects of organ donation include recognition, pride, and an overall better self-reputation. Additionally, people may think of your as having a better internal character.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Reading these articles really made me think for a while. I feel that donating organs is considered kind, and that people should be able to choose whether to donate during their lifetime. It will help a lot with the demand for organs used in transplants. People could have better quality of life if they get an organ donated to them, and letting people choose to give will open many more opportunities for patients.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I believe it is just fine to take organs from a corpse. I believe in this because they are not living anymore and when they get buried little bugs will just eat them up and put to waste. Then, I also think about leaving the corpse alone in peace. So, I'm thinking about getting permission from relatives to improve another ones life. Or, we could get the person's permission by signing a waiver before they pass. When someone wants to risk their life to donate some organ of theirs, that is up to themselves. It is very nice of someone to donate and risk their life to improve someone else's life. So, overall I think it's all up to permission of one's life or a relative's permission.

    ReplyDelete
  20. In my opinion, organ donation is a good thing. It makes sense for others to donate their organs, as they won't be alive when it happens. Why would it even matter to them? I respect the decision to not donate organs, but I don't understand it.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Organ donation and the ethics around it should not be as widely disputed as they really are. If the donor is healthy and wants to donate his/her organs to help those who are not as fortunate, I think the green light should be accepted and the donation should occur. If someone has registered for organ donation, and they die, their organs should 100% be donated. This relates to me because recently someone close to me died in a fatal car accident, and his organs were donated and saved the lives of 4 people. If he had not been a organ donor, 4 people could have lost their lives, and instead of just his life ending and his family's life forever altered, the 4 people he saved could have also died and their family's lives could have been forever changed.

    ReplyDelete
  22. After reading these articles, I believe that anyone should be able to donate their organs if they are on their death bed, however it should be their choice and nobody else’s. If someone is in need of something vital then it’s great if that person can receive what they need to continue living. I also believe that most people have a fear of donating their organs because they want to be a whole person when their family puts them away for eternity. Too add on, I don’t think you’re a bad person for not donating organs because it is your body and you have a choice, however it does show your selflessness if you are providing people with what they need to live.

    ReplyDelete
  23. IN my opinion, I agree wit organ donation because if the person passed away already, Then why would it matter ? it helps saves people lives , its not like its used for negative matter

    ReplyDelete
  24. IN my opinion, I agree wit organ donation because if the person passed away already, Then why would it matter ? it helps saves people lives , its not like its used for negative matter

    ReplyDelete
  25. These articles really make you think about the ethics of the situation. I believe there is a very fuzzy state between the ethics of what is right and wrong with organ donation. When it comes to living people donating organs like a kidney I believe that it is definitely logical considering the compliance of the donor is required but when you get into the life support situations is when you can related it a bit more to the story of The Post-Mortem People. In The Post-Mortem People the donors are given really no decision on what happens to their own body and organs however with people with brain damage and on life support it also raises many red flags because they can't comply to donating their own organs either. It becomes a very sticky situation and I am still not totally sure where I stand on it all but I believe that there should be a better way of deciding when is the right time to take someone off life support to donate their organs.

    ReplyDelete
  26. I believe that ethics is not a debate of right or wrong but a debate of what ifs. Like would you steal bread to feed your family. This is an ethical situation and it would be ok to steal the bread in this situation because it is life or death. In Post mortem people they are harvesting organs off people for a good cause but it still doesn't make it right. It also doesn't make this wrong in a sense because they are doing what they think is best. Ethics is what you think is right and is your moral compass in a way.

    ReplyDelete
  27. The thing with the Ethics of something like organs and donating/taking is that it always involves death so it will forever be a touchy subject regarding ethics. therefore we have to pose it more as a "one death can save many" as opposed to "these organs come at a cost" because if we dont post it in just the right way then nobody thinks rationally due to how the human brain works on a basic level we are hard wired to care about others of our race and thinking about them being hurt will put us on the defensive and make us irrational, whereas if we think that there is a chance some poor little boy who was born without a kidney or whatever then we try our best to help that boy. its just how humans work on a basic level

    ReplyDelete