Kidney Donation Act
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A Kidney Donation Act is an organ donation act of a kidney donation task (where an individual voluntarily donates one of their kidneys, either to a known or anonymous recipient).
- Context:
- It can (typically) be performed by a Living Donor, where the donor offers one of their kidneys while alive, retaining adequate kidney function with the remaining kidney.
- It can (often) occur as part of a Deceased Donor Program, where the kidney is harvested from a deceased donor and transplanted to a waiting recipient.
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- It can be a form of Directed Donation, where the donor designates a specific recipient, such as a family member, friend, or acquaintance.
- It can also be a Non-Directed Donation, where the donor does not know the recipient, indicating a high degree of altruism.
- It can be included in a Paired Kidney Exchange Act (or Kidney Swap), where incompatible donor-recipient pairs are matched with other pairs to allow successful transplantation.
- It can reflect a combination of altruistic motivation and familial obligation when the donation is made to a relative, ensuring compatibility and prioritizing the recipient’s health.
- It can involve significant medical, psychological, and ethical evaluations to ensure that the donor is making an informed, voluntary decision without coercion.
- It can be coordinated through national organizations such as the National Kidney Registry or United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) in the United States, which help match donors with recipients.
- It can require long-term follow-up care for the donor to monitor kidney function and overall health, as living kidney donors face potential risks and complications.
- It can serve as a life-saving intervention, dramatically improving the quality of life and life expectancy for individuals suffering from end-stage renal disease.
- It can have profound social and emotional effects, inspiring others to consider living donation and raising awareness about organ shortages.
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- Example(s):
- a Directed Kidney Donation Act where a parent donates a kidney to their child to treat end-stage renal disease, reflecting a mix of altruism and familial duty.
- a Good Samaritan Kidney Donation Act where a healthy individual donates a kidney to an unknown patient purely to save a life, without any expectation of recognition or reward.
- a Paired Kidney Exchange Act where two incompatible donor-recipient pairs participate in a kidney swap, allowing both patients to receive compatible kidneys.
- a Kidney Donation Chain Act where one non-directed kidney donor initiates a series of transplants across multiple hospitals, benefiting several patients in a donation chain.
- a Kidney Voucher Act where a living donor provides a kidney in advance, securing a “voucher” for a family member or friend who might need a kidney in the future, allowing flexibility in donation timing.
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- Counter-Example(s):
- Commercial Kidney Donation, where the kidney is sold for financial compensation rather than donated altruistically, introducing ethical and legal concerns.
- Coerced Kidney Donation, where the donor is pressured or forced to donate, violating their autonomy and ethical guidelines.
- Family-Pressured Kidney Donation, where a donor feels obligated to donate due to family expectations rather than personal choice.
- Organ Trafficking, where kidneys are obtained through illegal means, often exploiting vulnerable individuals for profit.
- Inadequate Screening Kidney Donation, where a kidney is donated without proper health and psychological evaluations, leading to risks for both the donor and recipient.
- See: Organ Donation Act, Living Donor Program, Bone Marrow Donation Act, Good Samaritan Donation Act, Medical Altruism, Bioethics, Kidney Voucher Program.