Question

John Doe, Patient One, is in late stage of kidney disease. If he does not receive a new kidney, then he is predicted to die within a week. Doe is 45, single, and has no children. Doctors theorize that Doe damaged his kidney by not following a low-salt diet. Doe inherited one million dollars and is known for giving money to charity. Without a transplant, he will probably be forced to spend all his money searching for a kidney outside of the usual legal channels. Patient Two is Jane Doe (no relation to John). Patient Two is a mother of two children (ages 21 and 24). She is divorced and 55 years old. She developed kidney problems due to eating a high-fat and high-sugar diet. If she does not receive a kidney within one month, doctors believe she will die. Patient Three is an orphan. This orphan lives in a state facility. She was born with a genetic condition that constantly damages her kidney. The only known approach to her condition is to provide her with a kidney transplant every so often. She is 11 and has already undergone two kidney transplants. She will perish in two months if she does not receive another transplant.

All three patients are at the same hospital. The hospital only has one kidney to give out. The orphan's birth parents were known to be of a religion that is opposed to organ donation. The other patients come from religions that do not oppose organ donation. Who should get the kidney? Why should that candidate receive it over the others? Devise a course of social action and a solution for this case by using the ethics of egoism and then utilitarianism to a key moral conflict involving health care in this case. Appraise the interests of diverse populations (in terms  of ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation, etc.) and how they relate to the case.

Answer 1

John Doe, patient one should receive the kidney since he would die within a week if he does not receive the kidney. The other patients Jane Doe and the Orphan both have one month and two months respectively. So, if we go by the time factor, John Doe requires the kidney transplant immediately.

Since John Doe is a philanthropist it would be good if he receives the kidney. He would do a lot of welfare activities. Going by his history of health, it looks that he would benefit with good health if he receives the kidney. Also it would be good for others, if he receives the kidney because he would help all the people with his welfare schemes

Jane Doe should be the next person to receive the kidney since she is a divorcee and she has two children. Also it is to be note that she has only one month to live. She has to maintain a proper diet and take care of her health post surgery to maintain a healthy kidney.

The Orphan has already had two transplants earlier and the kidneys that she had received earlier were not compatible to her since she has had genetic disorder that has been damaging her kidneys.

Hence John Doe, patient 1 should first have the kidney transplant.