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Directed altruistic living donation: what is wrong with the beauty contest?
- Source :
-
Journal of Medical Ethics . Nov2015, Vol. 41 Issue 11, p875-879. 5p. - Publication Year :
- 2015
-
Abstract
- This paper explores the specific criticism of directed altruistic living organ donation that it creates a 'beauty contest' between potential recipients of organs. The notion of the beauty contest in transplantation was recently used by Neidich et al who stated that '[a]ltruism should be the guiding motivation for all donations, and when it [is], there is no place for a beauty contest'. I examine this beauty contest objection from two perspectives. First, I argue that, when considered against the behaviour of donors, this objection cannot be consistently raised without also objecting to other common aspects of organ donation. I then explore the beauty contest objection from the perspective of recipients, and argue that if the beauty contest is objectionable, it is because of a tension between recipient behaviour and the altruism that supposedly underpins the donation system. I conclude by briefly questioning the importance of this tension in light of the organ shortage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 03066800
- Volume :
- 41
- Issue :
- 11
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Medical Ethics
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 110696168
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2014-102230