Question

Recall the case study regarding the breakthrough-technology that allows for the development of headless mice, which are rendered essentially nonsentient. This permits the use of organ transplantation in sick mice (who are “sentient” for all intents and purposes). Now, consider this technology be applied to humans, which would allow for a person in need of organ donation to create a “nonsentient” headless fetus that would be able to save their life.

Weighing the costs and benefits of the current organ transplant process as well as this possible headless fetus option, utilize at least one bioethical principle or theory to explain whether or not this practice should be permitted.

Answer 1

There is a very important ethical challenge to propose ethical organ selling even in a tightly regulated market, as it does violate the ethics of medicine. The core ethical norm of the medical profession is to “do no harm.” The only morally defensible way to remove an organ from someone is if the donor chooses to undergo the harm of surgery solely to help another also considering there is sufficient medical benefit to the recipient. The creation of a market puts medicine and nursing in the position of removing body parts from people solely to abet people’s interest in securing compensation. In the regulated markets also, doctors and nurses have been seen using their skills to help people harm themselves for money. This causes distrust and loss of professional at the same time pointing to the fact that this violates our ethics and morality of serving the nation as an able citizen.