“Should Laws Push for Organ Donation?”
Critical Analysis
By Lucas Peterka 804
This article focuses on the pros and cons of laws that push for organ donation, but offers all perspectives from all different authors. One author, Arthur Caplan, is in support of “presumed consent”, meaning all adults are assumed donors, unless they opt out. The reason for this is the increase in organs that would occur with presumed consent, which are desperately needed by thousands of people across America. Mary Ann Baily, however, says that presumed consent is unnecessary because it would take away the family’s right to chooses whether or not the donor’s organs can be taken after they have passed away. Kieran Healy also agrees that overriding the family’s right to choose is unethical. Spain is often used as a successful example, “But in Spain the next-of-kin still has veto power.” according to Kieran Healy.
The author who gathered all of these perspectives, wanted their reader to feel educated enough to develop their own opinion on the issue. We can see this is the mission with the variety of opinions that are offered. The opinions range from radically in support to radically against presumed consent. Each author providing different facts that would give any reader enough information to think about the issue with their own thoughts, without an enormous amount of opinion influencing their decisions about the topic. Another thing the author does is include subheadings before every author’s written part to inform the readers about what they will be talking about. Some offer blatant opinions like “This Is a Very Bad Idea” and “The Ethical Good of the ‘Yes’ Option”. Others are almost incredibly interesting hooks like “Why Revive Old Fears?” and “Setting Up Safeguards”. The reason the author does this is to not only interest us, but to also inform us of the topics and facts that will be discussed in the section.
Although this article contained a lot of opinion, it contained a lot of DIFFERENT opinions that offered a lot of different facts. This strategy allowed me, and other readers, to develop our own opinions based on the variety of facts offered.
I do not like the idea of "presumed consent" Arthur Caplan, has suggested in his book. Different cultures in different parts of the world have different ways of viewing those who have passed from their lives. Some find it indecent to cut open a body, even if it is for a good cause as in organ donation. So, to "Presume" that someone's body parts should be donated without their consent, could cause a lot of problems.
ReplyDeleteI really like your topic about Arthur Caplan and his perspective about people needing others' organs. It looks like a very interesting topic.
ReplyDeleteI really like your topic about Arthur Caplan and his perspective about people needing others' organs. It looks like a very interesting topic.
ReplyDelete