The Ethics of Organ Harvesting and Transplant
An article by Dr. Heidi Klessig originally published by G3 Ministries on the Ethics of Organ Transplant from a Christian perspective
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Respect For Human Life
Life, Death, and Medical Meaning
The Ethics of Organ Donation
1.5 Million
Registered Organ Donors Died in 2021
100,000
On the Transplant Waiting List
Every qualified Organ Donor can donate up to
8 Organs
There should be up to
120 Organs Each
For every waiting recipient
If the dead could donate even close to their maximum number of organs, there should be a
TREMENDOUS SURPLUS
*Based on 2021 Data from US Health and Human Services
So why is there a Transplant Waiting List?
The Facts
Organs, unlike tissues, can only be harvested from a living donor.
"When is somebody dead?"
Organs are complex collections of tissues that work together as a unit to perform a particular function. The heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys are examples of organs. Organs are dependent on a continuous supply of oxygen and nutrition from the circulatory system. Take away their blood flow, and they very rapidly become non-viable and begin to decompose, making them unsuitable for transplantation.
The medical definition of “tissue” is a group or layer of similar specialized cells that together perform a specialized function. Examples would include skin, bone, cornea, and adipose (fat). They decompose much more slowly in the absence of blood flow and may be harvested from a biologically dead donor.
This discussion brings up the question: when is somebody dead? Historically, elapsed time without breathing or a heartbeat marked medical and legal death until 1968. In that year, doctors at Harvard medical school proposed “redefining” irreversible coma as death. They did this for several reasons, one of which was to increase the supply of organs for donation by simply calling people in an irreversible coma “dead”. People in irreversible coma have beating hearts and breathing lungs (sometimes on a ventilator), so their organs are kept in good shape for harvesting.
"We maintain that people in an irreversible coma are spiritually still present in their physical bodies"
Most people recognize that human beings possess an immaterial essence, a “soul” or “spirit”, in addition to their physical bodies. The definition of death also includes an understanding that the person’s immaterial part has somehow been separated from their physical body and has departed. The historical definition of death allowed for this, but the revised definition does not. We maintain that people in an irreversible coma are spiritually still present in their physical bodies, and that harvesting their organs is an act of murder against these vulnerable people. Even more horrifying is that often these procedures are performed without the benefit of anesthesia, so that these people may be awake and aware during the harvest surgery, but unable to move due to the use of paralyzing drugs.
Our goal is to raise awareness of the deceptive language that is often used in discussing organ harvesting and transplantation, so that people can make intelligent and informed decisions for themselves and their loved ones on this important issue.
New Releases
Newest Book Release
When Christians Say, "I Believe Life Starts at Conception"
The Back Cover:
Life is a narrative built on history and rooted in guiding authorities—it’s a story. In 1968 doctors at Harvard Medical School took the first step to redefine death, not based on the biological facts of life, but on a narrative that would permit the harvesting of organs from people in a coma with objective signs of life. In 1981 the new story was codified as federal law in the Uniform Determination of Death Act (UDDA). Christians who believe life starts at conception are often unaware of how the modern account of death undermines their pro-life convictions and the Creator's story revealed in the Old and New Testaments.
Book Release
Harvesting Organs & Cherishing Life
Reader Reviews
"This is a long overdue book. I have been warning people about the horrors of "organ donation" for decades. I am so relieved that these wonderful, professional people have given us this tool to help inform everyone about the truth - there is no such thing as "Brain Death." Thank you from the bottom of my heart."
"When I considered being an organ donor I was under the assumption that once I was pronounced “dead” (all my organs shut down INCLUDING MY ENTIRE BRAIN”and my body dead and cold) that then I would certainly share any parts of my body that may help someone. I was wrong. You must educate yourself so that you too can make a clear decision."
"Be prepared to be challenged: Well-written, biblically based treatment of a misunderstood topic among many Christians...
The author is to be commended for taking on a subject most of us would prefer to ignore."
From the Forward:
"The authors of Harvesting Organs & Cherishing Life do not oppose organ donation and transplants; instead, they propose a view that does not violate the Law of God. Their abundant and verifiable examples of the dark side of organ harvesting will be repulsive, even horrifying to some. Their explanation of human death not only corrects the modern brain death error but exalts the victory of Jesus Christ over death. You cannot read this book and remain indifferent to the authors’ arguments."
~Jeff Pollard, General Editor of Free Grace Broadcaster and Pastor of Mt. Zion Bible Church
Book Review:
"And we cannot raise our voices if we are not informed; thus, we must all be aware of the grim reality behind what could happen when a person is declared 'brain dead' but is not truly dead."
The Authors
Types of Organ
Donation
How to Get Off the Donor List
First, go to your local Department of Motor Vehicles and remove your consent to donate from your driver’s license. Remove any consent to donate from your healthcare power of attorney and living will.
Sadly, this may not be enough.
The 2006 update to the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA) now mandates that individuals who refuse to donate must explicitly state so.
"If family is not 'reasonably available', that is to say, able to be contacted by an organ procurement organization without undue effort and willing and capable to act in a timely manner consistent with existing medical criteria necessary for making an anatomical gift, and there is no documented evidence of the decedent's choice not to donate; the administrator of the hospital 'shall make an anatomical gift of the decedent's body or part.'" (UAGA C.26.6-85)
The halovoice.org website has a Downloadable Wallet Card that you may use to legally protect yourself.
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