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Presumed Consent And Priority Allocation Systems For Organ Donation Legislation In The United States: Making The Moral Case, Ann K. Shapiro, Peter A. Depergola Ii

Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies Faculty Publications

In recent decades, developed nations, such as the United States, have seen the gap between the demand and the supply of transplantable organs widen, despite national campaigns intended to promote donor registration. This organ shortage crisis has deprived thousands of a basic quality of life and has caused a substantial increase in the cost of alternative medical care such as dialysis. In an attempt to address the shortage, some countries have instituted explicit “opt-out” and “priority allocation” policies that operate under the principle of presumed consent and offer higher priority on transplantation lists to registered donors. This paper seeks to …