Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Compulsory Organ Retrieval: Morally, But Not Socially, Justified.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Rosoff, PM
Published in: Camb Q Healthc Ethics
January 2018

The number of patients with organ failure who could potentially benefit from transplantation continues to exceed the available supply of organs. Despite numerous efforts to increase the number of donors, there remains an enormous mismatch between demand and supply. Large numbers of people still die with potentially transplantable organs remaining in situ, most frequently as a result of family objections. I argue that there are no persuasive moral arguments against mandated organ retrieval from all dead individuals who meet clinical criteria. However, because of continuing endemic prejudice in United States society and its healthcare system and the distrust this engenders, I conclude that proceeding with a policy of compulsory organ retrieval, even if morally unobjectionable, would not be warranted.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

Camb Q Healthc Ethics

DOI

EISSN

1469-2147

Publication Date

January 2018

Volume

27

Issue

1

Start / End Page

36 / 51

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Tissue and Organ Procurement
  • Tissue and Organ Harvesting
  • Tissue Donors
  • Religion
  • Organ Transplantation
  • Morals
  • Humans
  • Brain Death
  • Applied Ethics
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Rosoff, P. M. (2018). Compulsory Organ Retrieval: Morally, But Not Socially, Justified. Camb Q Healthc Ethics, 27(1), 36–51. https://doi.org/10.1017/S096318011700038X
Rosoff, Philip M. “Compulsory Organ Retrieval: Morally, But Not Socially, Justified.Camb Q Healthc Ethics 27, no. 1 (January 2018): 36–51. https://doi.org/10.1017/S096318011700038X.
Rosoff PM. Compulsory Organ Retrieval: Morally, But Not Socially, Justified. Camb Q Healthc Ethics. 2018 Jan;27(1):36–51.
Rosoff, Philip M. “Compulsory Organ Retrieval: Morally, But Not Socially, Justified.Camb Q Healthc Ethics, vol. 27, no. 1, Jan. 2018, pp. 36–51. Pubmed, doi:10.1017/S096318011700038X.
Rosoff PM. Compulsory Organ Retrieval: Morally, But Not Socially, Justified. Camb Q Healthc Ethics. 2018 Jan;27(1):36–51.
Journal cover image

Published In

Camb Q Healthc Ethics

DOI

EISSN

1469-2147

Publication Date

January 2018

Volume

27

Issue

1

Start / End Page

36 / 51

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Tissue and Organ Procurement
  • Tissue and Organ Harvesting
  • Tissue Donors
  • Religion
  • Organ Transplantation
  • Morals
  • Humans
  • Brain Death
  • Applied Ethics