An ethical defense of a mandated choice consent procedure for deceased organ donation

Journal article


Symons, Xavier and Poulden, Billy. (2022). An ethical defense of a mandated choice consent procedure for deceased organ donation. Asian Bioethics Review. 14(3), pp. 259-270. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41649-022-00206-5
AuthorsSymons, Xavier and Poulden, Billy
Abstract

Organ transplant shortages are ubiquitous in healthcare systems around the world. In response, several commentators have argued for the adoption of an opt-out policy for organ transplantation, whereby individuals would by default be registered as organ donors unless they informed authorities of their desire to opt-out. This may potentially lead to an increase in donation rates. An opt-out system, however, presumes consent even when it is evident that a significant minority are resistant to organ donation. In this article, we defend a mandated choice framework for consent to deceased organ donation. A mandated choice framework, coupled with good public education, would likely increase donation rates. More importantly, however, a mandated choice framework would respect the autonomous preferences of people who do not wish to donate. We focus in particular on the Australian healthcare context, and consider how a mandated choice system could function as an ethical means to increase the organ donation rate in Australia. We make the novel proposal that all individuals who vote at an Australian federal election be required to state their organ donation preferences when voting.

Keywordsorgan donation; consent; opt-in system; opt-out system; mandated choice; autonomy
Year2022
JournalAsian Bioethics Review
Journal citation14 (3), pp. 259-270
PublisherSpringer
ISSN1793-8759
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1007/s41649-022-00206-5
PubMed ID35791333
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85129137336
PubMed Central IDPMC9250577
Open accessPublished as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
Page range259-270
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Open
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online29 Apr 2022
Publication process dates
Accepted27 Mar 2022
Deposited21 Jul 2023
Permalink -

https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8z5y0/an-ethical-defense-of-a-mandated-choice-consent-procedure-for-deceased-organ-donation

Download files


Publisher's version
OA_Symons_2022_An_ethical_defense_of_a_mandated.pdf
License: CC BY 4.0
File access level: Open

  • 61
    total views
  • 30
    total downloads
  • 4
    views this month
  • 1
    downloads this month
These values are for the period from 19th October 2020, when this repository was created.

Export as

Related outputs

Why conscience matters : A theory of conscience and its relevance to conscientious objection in medicine
Symons, Xavier. (2023). Why conscience matters : A theory of conscience and its relevance to conscientious objection in medicine. Res Publica. 29(1), pp. 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11158-022-09555-2
Conscientious objection in health care : Why the professional duty argument is unconvincing
Symons, Xavier. (2022). Conscientious objection in health care : Why the professional duty argument is unconvincing. The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy. 47(4), pp. 549-557. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmp/jhac013
Vulnerability and resilience : Phenomenological analysis of cancer patients value directives
Michael, Natasha, Symons, Xavier, Mendz, George L. and Kissane, David. (2022). Vulnerability and resilience : Phenomenological analysis of cancer patients value directives. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. 64(5), pp. 438-448. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2022.07.015
Why should HCWs receive priority access to vaccines in a pandemic?
Symons, Xavier, Matthews, Stephen Crawford and Tobin, Bernadette Margaret. (2021). Why should HCWs receive priority access to vaccines in a pandemic? BMC Medical Ethics. 22(1), pp. 79-88. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-021-00650-2
Respect for persons and the allocation of lifesaving healthcare resources
Symons, Xavier. (2021). Respect for persons and the allocation of lifesaving healthcare resources. Bioethics. 35(5), pp. 392-399. https://doi.org/10.1111/bioe.12857
Reflective disequilibrium : A critical evaluation of the complete lives framework for healthcare rationing
Symons, Xavier. (2021). Reflective disequilibrium : A critical evaluation of the complete lives framework for healthcare rationing. Journal of Medical Ethics. 47(2), pp. 108-112. https://doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2020-106626
Rationing, responsibility and blameworthiness : An ethical evaluation of responsibility-sensitive policies for healthcare rationing
Symons, Xavier and Chua, Reginald. (2021). Rationing, responsibility and blameworthiness : An ethical evaluation of responsibility-sensitive policies for healthcare rationing. Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal. 31(1), pp. 53-76. https://doi.org/10.1353/ken.2021.0004
‘Alive by default’ : An exploration of Velleman’s unfair burdens argument against state sanctioned euthanasia
Symons, Xavier and Chua, Reginald. (2020). ‘Alive by default’ : An exploration of Velleman’s unfair burdens argument against state sanctioned euthanasia. Bioethics. 34(3), pp. 288-294. https://doi.org/10.1111/bioe.12677
Pellegrino, MacIntyre, and the internal morality of clinical medicine
Symons, Xavier. (2019). Pellegrino, MacIntyre, and the internal morality of clinical medicine. Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics. 40(3), pp. 243-251. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11017-019-09487-8
Patients' and caregivers' contested perspectives on spiritual care for those affected by advanced illnesses : A qualitative descriptive study
O'Callaghan, Clare, Brooker, Joanne, de Silva, William, Glenister, David, Melia, Cert Adelaide, Symons, Xavier, Kissane, David and Michael, Natasha. (2019). Patients' and caregivers' contested perspectives on spiritual care for those affected by advanced illnesses : A qualitative descriptive study. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. 58(6), pp. 977-988. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2019.08.004
Meeting needs and respecting persons : An ethical framework for the allocation of lifesaving healthcare interventions
Symons, Xavier. (2019). Meeting needs and respecting persons : An ethical framework for the allocation of lifesaving healthcare interventions [PhD Thesis]. Australian Catholic University School of Philosophy https://doi.org/10.26199/acu.8vyv1
Organismal death, the dead-donor rule and the ethics of vital organ procurement
Symons, Xavier and Chua, Reginald Mary. (2018). Organismal death, the dead-donor rule and the ethics of vital organ procurement. Journal of Medical Ethics. 44(12), pp. 868-871. https://doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2018-104796
Rawls, reasonableness, and conscientious objection in health care
Symons, Xavier. (2018). Rawls, reasonableness, and conscientious objection in health care. In In Grant, Bligh, Drew, Joseph and Christensen, Helen E. (Ed.). Applied ethics in the fractured state : Volume 20 pp. 45-54 Emerald Group Publishing Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1529-209620180000020004
Extending awareness of Catholic healthcare ethics among junior clinicians : A qualitative study
O’Callaghan, Clare, Trimboli, Julia, Symons, Xavier, Staples, Margaret, Patterson, Emma and Michael, Natasha. (2018). Extending awareness of Catholic healthcare ethics among junior clinicians : A qualitative study. Journal of Religion and Health. 57(4), pp. 1440-1450. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-017-0519-5
Does the doctrine of double effect apply to the prescription of barbiturates? Syme vs the Medical Board of Australia
Symons, Xavier. (2018). Does the doctrine of double effect apply to the prescription of barbiturates? Syme vs the Medical Board of Australia. Journal of Medical Ethics. 44(4), pp. 266-269. https://doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2017-104230
The right to know versus the right to privacy : Donor anonymity and the Assisted Reproductive Treatment Amendment Act 2016 (Vic)
Symons, Xavier. (2017). The right to know versus the right to privacy : Donor anonymity and the Assisted Reproductive Treatment Amendment Act 2016 (Vic). Medical Journal of Australia. 207(9), pp. 377-378. https://doi.org/10.5694/mja17.00259