35417 Informed Consent: Ethical Issues in Organ Donation

Course overview

Discusses informed consent, elements of informed consent, factors that contribute toward conducting a risk-benefit analysis, and weaknesses related to living donation consent. There are more than 118,000 individuals within the United States that are listed for an organ transplant, and many of these individuals face lengthy wait times for an organ to become available. In 2016, around 6,000 transplants were completed through a living donor, from a relative, loved one, or an anonymous donor. One of the main ethical concerns related to living donor transplantation is that a balance between the risks and benefits to the individual donating the organ must be achieved. Many factors must be taken into consideration, and the evaluation process should require collaborative efforts between all parties involved in order to ensure that expectations are understood and that best outcomes can be achieved. As organ transplantation has evolved over time, new challenges and ethical dilemmas have come to light, necessitating that healthcare providers become educated regarding these ethical issues in order to achieve better transplant recipient and donor outcomes.