[ necessity of compiling the organ transplantation ethical guideline in Iran: along with a brief report of Asian task force on organ trafficking]

ABSTRACT

In recent years, policy makers and health authorities have taken various steps to address organ demand in Iran. As a result of extensive efforts, including the adaptation of the controlled living unrelated donation program for kidney transplantation, the kidney transplant waiting list has been eliminated since 1999. Currently, the Iranian model of kidney transplantation is a culturally-adapted organ procurement system. However, we need to re-examine the current system and to strengthen it from the aspect of ethics. For this reason, it is necessary to compile an ethical guideline for organ transplantation. In this paper, the importance of the issue will be emphasized and some suggestions will be pointed out. We will also state a brief report of the first and the second Asian Task force on Organ Trafficking which was held in Taipei, in July, 2007 and January, 2008. Undoubtedly, a comprehensive practical ethical guideline consisting of a special attention to the prevention of kidney diseases, enhancing cadaveric donation, motivating altruistic donation, reinforcing ethical evaluation and supervision, and supporting donors' and recipients' rights would be very helpful for supporting the current system