ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION

Organ Transplantation To Prisoners



Organ Transplantation To Prisoners

Introduction

The graft is a transplant or treatment given in complex medical situations. It lets organs, tissues or cells of a person to replace ill organs, tissues or cells of another person (Stein, 2007). In some cases, this action serves to save the life of an ill person, others to improve the quality of life or both. The first successful transplantation of our time was recorded cornea, in 1905, conducted by Eduard Zirm (Appel, Fox, 2005). The first kidney was at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in 1951, the first heart, took place on December 3, 1967 (Stein, 2007). The advantages of a transplant can be many: the cure of a disease, which is another way to do gene therapy to the patient that this whole gene expression is under control and most importantly, the organ, tissue or cell transplant did not go to have marks from a previous illness. Similarly, there are drawbacks to consider: there are supply problems; we find serious problems of compatibility and rejection, monitoring and surgery can be expensive and like any other type of operation, and we can find a high probability of infection (Appel, Fox, 2005).

Discussion

Should a convicted murderer serving a minimum of 15 years to life be able to receive organ transplantation?

Ethically speaking, it can be said that everyone has the right to live. This will in turn lead to the conclusion that yes, a convicted murderer serving a minimum of 15 years to life, should be able to receive organ transplantation. This is easier said than done. This is because of the fact that the man has been convicted of murdering a person. He is said to be a criminal, and in turn is dangerous to the society (Thaler, Richard, 2009). Moreover, it can also be said in this case that another person who has not committed any crime would be a more suitable person and will have the right for the organ transplantation, as he is not convicted of any criminal activity. The thing that needs to be considered in this case is the fact that every person, whether criminal or not has certain human rights. The first and foremost right of a living individual in this is world is to live (Whetstine, Streat, Darwin, Crippen, 2005). Considering this human right of a living individual in this world, whether a criminal or not, it can be said that the convicted murderer in this case, Mr. Smith does have the right to receive the organ transplantation. Moreover, looking on the other aspect of this case, it can also be said that Mr. Smith has been sentenced for 15 years in prison, and has not been sentenced to death (Thaler, Richard, 2009). If he had been sentenced to death, the case would have been different from. It would have been considered then that the prisoner has to be hanged to death, and giving him organ transplantation would mean wasting the organ, which could be given to ...