Should Doctors Relax the ‘Dead-Donor Rule’ to Increase Organ Transplants?

Dalrymple addresses arguments made in the New England Journal of Medicine in favor of relaxing the dead-donor rule in organ transplantation:

One of the authors suggests that the DDR is routinely violated in any case and that, in so far as it is obeyed, it limits the number of organs available for transplant and thereby allows people to die who could have been saved. But, says the author, “it is not obvious why certain living patients, such as those who are near death but on life support, should not be allowed to donate their organs, if doing so would benefit others and be consistent with their own interests. … Allegiance to the DDR … limits the procurement of transplantable organs by denying some patients the option to donate in situations in which death is imminent and donation is desired.”

I find this way of putting the matter sinister. When the authors say “donation is desired” I want to ask, “Desired by whom?”

One thought on “Should Doctors Relax the ‘Dead-Donor Rule’ to Increase Organ Transplants?

  1. TMay

    Regarding relaxing the DDR (Dead Donor Rule) in organ transplants, and your comments, because of what I’ve read takes place in emergency rooms, I have not said yes to being an organ donor,

    Reply

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