Opt-Out Organ Donation Policy

This change would increase the number of available organs for transplanting. An opt-out organ donation policy is where everyone is an organ donor, unless they have explicitly indicated that they do not want to be an organ donor. On the other hand, an opt-in organ donation policy indicates that no one is an organ donor unless they have put themselves on the organ donation list. Although, the public opinion is divided on the topic due to moral and ethical issues, the Organization of Organ Transplant Nurses, is in favor of changing to an opt-out policy.

Another ethical issue is the fear that policies to maximize organ donations in an opt-out organ donation system, could go too far – leading to premature declarations of death in order
to harvest organs (Ertin 112). Many, would agree that taking an organ from deceased body is a justified practice in that it would save a life, when it is no longer needed in another’s body. Although, to address the ethical issue, a health care system needs to establish the criteria in which one is pronounced dead. Currently, a person is considered dead when “either the heart stops beating or brain function ceases” (Ertin 113). If health care practitioners are aware of the definition deceased, and the family agrees when one is lifeless, then this can avoid declarations of premature death. Therefore, the United States can address this in health care systems and make opt-out organ donation more ethical.