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Moral Implications for Both the Donor and the Recipient

Antonio Manzelli, MD; P. Marco Fisichella, MD; Giuseppe Bonfrate; Achille Lucio Gaspari, MD

Arch Surg. 2004;139:1259.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

When transplantation of an unhealthy organ from a living donor is the last chance for survival, both the donor and the recipient are faced with a difficult situation that requires the donor’s complete freedom and generosity and the recipient’s full awareness of the risks involved. Therefore, the recipient confronts the risks caused by the unhealthy organ and the right to live; if there are no other forms of cure available, the recipient must consciously accept that survival entails a reduction in quality of life.

This is a delicate point, because it is a clear exception to the assumption that an organ donation includes a healthy organ. It must be clear, however, that an unhealthy organ cannot be transplanted without the consent of the recipient. In fact, the most important decision factor is the freedom of choice of . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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