Garrett Funderburg

Toni Penwell
English 2100
26 February 2015
Organ Donation and Transplantation: Ethical Vs. Unnatural
Organ donation and transplantation have been implemented more and more into our
society as time passes. With this increase, there is a shortage of organs for these procedures. I
believe more people should enroll as organ donors because of the lack of available organs, the
amount of people of the waiting list for transplants, and the fact of not needing them after one
passes away. If more people were to become organ donors many more people could have these
surgeries and more than likely give them many more years to live.

Organ donation has grown immensely since it began many years ago. The process of
organ donation procures enough organs to perform around 28,000 transplants a year
(Organdonor.gov). This saves the lives of many people who are near death from organ failure.
With this process in place, many people can be helped and saved because of organ donors. Some
people believe that once they are dead, they will no longer have any use for their organs and
therefore may as well donate them to people who need them. From one organ donor, up to eight
lives can be saved with the process or organ donation and transplantation. The ratio of people
that need new organs and the number or organ donors is not close enough to help every person.
It is said that around eighteen people die each day waiting for an organ transplant. If more

people were organ donors this could help decrease the number of people who pass away while
waiting on a transplant.
In spite of all of the good that can come from organ donation and transplantation, there
are those who have a personal dilemma with this process. Some feel that it is unnatural to
harvest ones organs after death; they believe that they were given these organs and they were
not intended to be transferred to another individual. To some, the act of cutting someone open
and taking out their insides is very disturbing. These people believe that the body should be
treated with respect after death and therefore should not be mutilated by procurement of organs.
Others have heard and/or believe the rumor that if one is an organ donor, the doctors will do less
to help save you in critical conditions in order to collect your organs for another patient.
However, there are many rules and regulations that prevent this from happening (Cohen 1).
Another setback for organ donation is the different religious views on the different
types or organ donation and transplantation. Most major religions do not directly forbid organ
donation or transplantation, but there are some that have strong views and regulations on the
process of doing so. Some of these different religions include Islam, Jehovahs Witnesses, and
Buddhism.
One of the main religions, Islam, have beliefs and laws come from the Koran and the
Hadith (Elliot 353). Their views on organ donation and transplantation vary in different areas
around the world. In many Arab countries, organ transplantation is well established, but in parts
of India, it is not accepted (Elliot 353). Islamic ideas state that no mutilation comes to a
deceased body and that respect is to be given to the body and the memory of the person. Consent
is needed by the donor before death or from a family member. In the case of living donors, as
long as there is no significant risk to the donor upon donation, it is accepted. In his interview,

Mufti Zubair Butt from the Muslim Council of Britain said that organ donation was forbidden
firstly because when an organ is removed from a body it is then impure and secondly because
honor and dignity is due to the deceased (Gurch 747). This is not the view of all Muslims, but
some do not accept this as a form of treatment.
One of the smaller regions, Jehovahs Witnesses, have their own views on donation.
Jehovahs Witnesses have a strict ban on the intake of any blood. This is because of the very
literal translation of biblical passages forbidding the consumption of blood (Elliot 356).
Therefore, any blood transfusions are banned by the religion. This being said, if one were to
decide to donate or receive an organ or tissue from another, the organ or tissue would have to be
completely drained of blood before the transplantation. Nowhere in Jehovahs Witnesses biblical
texts does it specifically forbid organ or tissue transplant, and the choice is given to the
individual.
There are many benefits that come from the organ donation and transplantation process.
Many lives can be saved by doing this but the idea that this is an unnatural process is not to be
overlooked. These personal and religious views should be respected when brought up during the
debate of organ donation and transplantation. With that being said, I believe that more people
should become organ donors for the sake of others. The difference that someone can make by
being an organ donor is worth it.