ISSUES
ETHICAL
WHAT ARE THE ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS OF ARTIFICIAL ORGANS?
Some of the ethical issues revolving around the use of synthetic organs are that some people feel that the patient has virtually no position to make the choice about the transplant, especially since the outcome without it is equates to death. In response to this, most people use the Nuremberg Code, which take the patients under protection when they are “human subjects during experimental research trials” (Simmons, Fall and Winter 2001, p. 402). Not only the lack of actual consideration from the patient themselves, there is also the fear that an injury or perhaps even death would result from the transplant of these artificial organs due to how experimental they are. Because these artificial organs are technically still being tested for efficiency and progress, there is no way to be certain that the patient would survive the ordeal completely healthy. Artificial organs are very costly as well; not everyone can afford to buy synthetic organs readily available for transplant even if it did go towards saving their lives. As Lena Williams states in her article ‘Center Explores the Ethics of Artificial Heart,’ “Those who can afford it, get it.”
LEGAL
HOW DOES THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL ORGANS RELATE BACK TO LEGAL ISSUES?
There are many legal issues concerning synthetic organs. One issue is having to have the FDA approve of companies products before making them available to the public. Most companies are rejected, however some companies get approved by the FDA to release and produce their product. Another legal issue is the selling of artificial organs on the black market which is illegal. The government is trying to stop the selling of illegal organs but trying to find the distributors and stop these illegal markets.
SOCIAL
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SOCIAL STIGMA THAT ARTIFICIAL ORGANS RECEIVE?
Some of the social issues regarding use of artificial organs are that the effects of artificial organ transplant do not always cause great strain on just the patients, but also their guardians. The stress over artificial organs being transplanted into the patient’s body brings a lot of strain in their finances and social life due to always having to worry over the patient’s health and their well-being instead of their own. The experimental nature of these synthetic organs forces the caregiver to moderate the patient 24/7 and be on call at all times. Some people might also abuse unhealthy habits, such as smoking and drinking, under the assumption and hope of receiving an artificial organ to replace their damaged one, leaving less artificial organs for those who are desperately in need for them.