BIOO 2110 Organ transplant

Learning Outcomes (LO)

This course investigates the relationship of organ donation within bioethics and consent.
The course will analyze the systems in place and aim to suggest improvements through a bioethical lens. The subject of organ donation and death will be touched upon, but further we will also look into different cultures, analyze communication between physicians and patients and their families and furthermore open the discussion of what may happen to our bodies after death.
The course will focus on organ donation practices and give concrete examples of cases in the United States, Germany and Austria. The United States is arguably the global leader in medicine and technology, counting as a pioneer in a plethora of medical fields. Patients from around the world seek medical advice and treatment in the United States, trusting in its medical practice. The United States also exhibits a unique civic culture surrounding the issues of organ donation practices, the organ donation campaigns are renowned in the United States and there exists an outspoken organ donation community, which works to draw attention to the subject of organ donation. Germany, in some ways is the counterpart to the United States, having one of Europe’s strongest medical systems and in its own right, breaking new ground in organ transplantation. Germany and the United States work under an opt-in consent system, yet the systems are distinctly different when closely analyzed. Austria is, in many ways distinctly similar to Germany, in terms of its culture and language, in spite of this it is remarkably different when working with organ donation and consent. In contrast to Germany, Austria uses an opt-out consent system, providing much insight into this practice. This difference provided an exceptional point of contrast for the other two opt-out countries under evaluation.

Further topics under evaluation will include: nudge and organ donation, fears of potential donors, manipulation in organ transplantation, communication and training of organ donation coordinators.

Students will be able to compare the different systems in place and an open discussion can be held about various strengths and weaknesses of the differing systems.

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Bibliografia

MILLER, F., TROUG, R. Death, Dying, and Organ Transplantation, Reconstructing Medical Ethics at the End of Life, Oxford University Press, New York, 2012.
VEATCH, R. M.,- L. F. ROSS. Transplantation Ethics, second edition. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press, 2015.
THALER, R., SUNSTEIN, C., Nudge, Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth and Happiness, Yale University Press, New Haven & London, 2008.
Interesting websites:

STIFTUNG EUROTRANSPLANT, official website, http://www.eurotransplant.org/cms/

ORGANTRANSPLANTATIONSGESETZ,- OTPG, Austrian Organ Transplant Law, www.parlament.gv.at.

ORGAN DONATION REGISTRY, www.organdonor.gov . USA, 2015.