Organ Donation and Global Bioethics

February 24, 2010

In the United States and around the world, demand for organs for transplantation exceeds the number of organs available (Institute of Medicine [IOM], 2006; Canadian Institute for Health Information, 2009; Rhee et al., 2009; Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, 2010; UK Transplant, 2010). The United States and other nations have attempted or considered different plans and practices for increasing the number of organs available. In the United States, the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA) has been amended over the years in hopes of creating circumstances that promote and facilitate organ donation (UAGA, 1968, 1987, 2006/2007; Iltis, Rie, and Wall, 2009). [Premium (Journal of Medicine and Philosophy)]