Organ Transplant

The shortage of organs in the United States is leading to dilemmas and moral issues for physicians. They are taking a closer look at the feasible recipients and their potential for future success. The key to a successful transplant is carefully selecting those patients who are good matches and who need it urgently. For example, patients who have matching blood types should receive organs before those whose bodies may reject the implant. One problem that physicians are dealing with is providing organs to recovering alcoholics. People say that, "Patients have a personal responsibility to prevent their own liver disease and therefore should not be considered on an equal basis with other liver transplant candidates"(Van Thiel 1). This is unethical because a large percent of alcoholism occurs do to hereditary genes. Patients who have cardiovascular disease from obesity or lung disease from smoking fall into the same "lifestyle-related" disease category. Alcohol patients should be carefully evaluated and asked questions concerning their problem. Questions such as, do they recognize their alcoholism, and do they have relationships or activities to assist them with their recovery. "Selection for liver transplant recipients should be made