Donaciones presuntas de órganos para trasplantes: acuerdos de la comisión de ética de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de Chile / Presumptive organ donation for transplantation: agreement of the ethic committee of the faculty of medicine of Universidad de Chile

ABSTRACT

The ethics committee of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, was consulted about the ethical aspects of presumptive organ donation for transplantation. After analyzing the problem, the committee concluded that every human being has the right to make use of his organs freely, voluntarily and according to his own discernment. The cosiety has no right to make obligatory this donation, even after death. The foundations of this agreement were laid in a series of reasons. In fact, the corpse is not a juridical but a ethical asset and deserves respect for whom it was. It cannot be commercialized and the only non-religious object susceptible of profanation. It is also object of popular affective and religious manifestations. Beliefs and affects must be respected. Organ donation is an act of charity and cannot be compulsory. The organ donation consent must be explicit, voluntary and solemn