The ethics of life

Thangjam Sanjoo Singh *

There are shocking newspaper headlines: "Human Heart Sold for $80, 000, Illicit Trafficking of Infant organs" and in some newspaperheadlines, "Honduran President Orders Investigation, 600 Children Missing, and Kidnapped for Human Organs."

"In China, Pardoned Death Row Inmates Account for Largest Number of Human Organ Donors.5,000 Transplants a Year." In some countries, it is said that trafficking in human organs is an everyday event. I have also heard that there are even group tours of people seeking human organs in India and the Philippines. These events are caused not only because there aren't strong laws prohibiting such things in these countries but because of poverty. It won't be a surprising issue if these things are happening in Manipur too on the quiet.

Rich people in developed countries buy human organs through the sacrifice of others, attempting to prolong their lives because of their own egocentric cravings. If this is happening than in what way do we think of our lives and the lives of others?

Most countries in the world allow organ transplants from a donor who is considered brain dead.

Let me summarize arguments on both sides of the issue. First, the people for brain death argued as follows:

1. It helps patients who are waiting for organ transplants.
2. It advances medical techniques.
3. It helps dissuade people from going abroad to get organ transplants.
4. Patients benefit from receiving good organs from a person who is essentially dead.

Those against brain death argued as follows:
1. The dignity of the organ donor's life is not well protected. Human organs are considered commodities in this case.
2. The human rights of politically weak people are compromised.
3. The economically weak are placed at an unfair disadvantage.
4. Physicians are not universally trusted. Doubt remains about the motives of physicians conducting transplant surgery. Doctors may decide too hastily who is dead and who isn't
5. There may be insensitivity to the wishes of the donor's family.
6. The honor of the deceased is put in question.
7. An effective method of validating the donor's will has not been established in some countries (where as in the United States, a donor card system has been implemented.)
8. There may be discrimination involved in deciding who will receive the available organ

Considering the above facts, we can see that there are many problems with which we must be concerned with when implementing organ transplant policy. Already, there is a shortage of humanorgans. Under these circumstances, (the illicit trade in organs thrives), the rich people will benefit more from these transplants than low income people. Moreover, there is a danger that economically and militarily weak countries will fall victim to the greed and the manipulation of powerful countries with regard to organ transplants.

From this point of view, I think that transplants aren't fair to people. Therefore, I am against organ transplant at the time of brain death.

When we think of the ethics of life, it is important to consider human rights as it relates to medical treatment. For example, the idea of informed consent and patient rights must be examined. Moreover, patients' rights should be established through a system that allows checks by both patients and the public. In other words, the human rights of the patients must be respected.

To protect the right of patients, there are countless numbers of associations and organizations established but there are still problems. There should be an even stronger belief in human rights, one that will protect the dignity of human life.

A more serious problem than the issues discussed so far is that of euthanasia.