Ethical disputes over living organ transplant and the applicable solutions to these disputes in China / Disputas éticas sobre el trasplante de órganos vivos y soluciones aplicables a esta disputas en China / Disputas éticas sobre transplante de órgãos vivos e as soluções aplicáveis a estas disputas na China

Objectives: In this study, we examine the ethical issues concerning living organ transplant in China. We attempt to review and analyze the ethical disputes that the living organ transplant faces in China and try to find applicable solutions to these disputes. Design: Ethical Analysis. Setting: Living organ transplant in China. Results: The ideal approaches to solving the ethical disputes involve (1) preventing disease, strengthening physical fitness, and improving the health of the national citizen; (2) encouraging the citizens to donate their organs after death; and (3) developing new technologies for organ transplant. Realistic approaches to addressing the ethical disputes over the living organ transplant include choosing the lesser of two evils, reducing the harm to the donor as much as possible and improving the transplant quality. Conclusions: The living organ transplant in China is an expedient measure instead of an ideal option and should be conducted under strict laws and regulations.

Objetivos: Neste estudo, examinamos as questões éticas relativas ao transplante de órgãos vivos na China. Vamos tentar rever e analisar os conflitos éticos que o transplante de órgãos vivos enfrenta na China e tentar encontrar soluções aplicáveis a estas disputas. Projeto: Análise ética. Configuração: Transplante de órgão vivo na China. Resultados: As abordagens ideais para resolver os conflitos éticos envolvem (1) prevenção de doenças, fortalecimento da aptidão física e melhora da saúde do cidadão nacional; (2) incentivar os cidadãos a doar seus órgãos após a morte; e (3) desenvolvimento de novas tecnologias para transplante de órgão. Abordagens realistas para enfrentar as disputas éticas sobre o transplante de órgão vivos incluem escolher o menor de dois males, reduzindo o dano ao doador o máximo possível e melhorar a qualidade do transplante. Conclusões: Transplantes de órgãos vivos na China é uma medida conveniente ao invés de uma opção ideal e deve ser conduzida sob estritas leis e regulamentos.

O artigo traz à discussão a compreensão atual do comportamento ecológico do ser humano, a partir de uma relação de dominação utilitária do ambiente em contraste com a sua compreensão do ponto de vista ecológico, a qual responde a um modelo natural que faz parte de relações de seu funcionamento no ecossistema. A este respeito, é colocado em discussão o paradigma de crise ambiental, em que tal comportamento supõe um problema grave da sociedade. Para os autores, a questão está intimamente ligada ao sistema produtivo e econômico que promove a artificialização do ser humano, criando falsas necessidades que, por meio de seu consumo, garantam a sustentabilidade do modelo econômico. É realizada uma reflexão crítica a partir da educação, no sentido de uma nova compreensão do comportamento humano, cuja perspectiva ecológica impulsiona novas relações ecossistêmicas baseadas na cooperação.

A review of the possibility of adopting financially driven live donor kidney transplantation

ABSTRACT Kidney transplantation for end-stage renal disease remains the preferred solution due to its survival advantage, enhanced quality of life and cost-effectiveness. The main obstacle worldwide with this modality of treatment is the scarcity of organs. The demand has always exceeded the supply resulting in different types of donations. Kidney donation includes pure living related donors, deceased donors, living unrelated donors (altruistic), paired kidney donation and more recently compensated kidney donation. Ethical considerations in live donor kidney transplantation have always created a debate especially when rewarding unrelated donors. In this paper, we examine the problems of financially driven kidney transplantation, the ethical legitimacy of this practice, and propose some innovative methods and policies that could be adopted to ensure a better practice with accepted ethical guidelines.

Declaración de Estambul en relación al tráfico de órganos y turismo en trasplante / Istambul Declaration on organ trafficking and transplant tourism

This is a translation into Spanish, done by Mario Uribe, M.D., F.A.C.S., and authorized by the Conference Organization, of the official statements signed by The Transplantation Society, The International Society of Nephrology and the representatives who participated at a WHO sponsored Conference held in Istambul, Turkey, April 30 to May 2, 2008.

[Ethical issues and living unrelated donor kidney transplantation]

During the past decades, the number of altruistic living unrelated kidney donations has substantially increased in developed countries. However, the altruistic supply of transplantable kidneys has remained much less than the demand. As a result, severe kidney shortage has been associated with increasing number of patient deaths and increasing number of commercial transplants and transplant tourism. Studies have shown that there is still a need for living kidney donation because even all potential brain-dead donors cannot supply the escalating need for kidneys. The use of living unrelated kidney donors should be morally and ethically justified and should be compatible with ethical principles. Many experts believe that increasing number of patient deaths and commercial transplants will continue to happen if kidney donation system remains merely altruistic. While some transplant professionals support a paid and regulated system to eliminate kidney shortage, others argue that it will be destructive. Iran has a 20-year experience with a compensated and regulated living unrelated kidney donation program. This transplantation model was adopted in 1988, and successfully eliminated kidney transplant waiting list by the end of 1999. Currently, more than 50% of patients with end-stage kidney disease in Iran are living with a functioning graft. This Iranian transplantation model has many ethical successes. However, because it has not been well regulated by transplant ethicists, some ethical shortcomings have remained. Unfortunately, due to lack of interest and expertise in health authorities, the number of serious ethical failures is also increasing in this transplantation model