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Show i ightjodie? Doctor discusses morality of transplants J I 'I i i I j I 'V I i,,. ...-. in i lit ! I. Dr. Keith Reemstma, who told Challenge audiences some of the ethical considerations of organ transplants. , re. evaluation of our tfinitions of life and death must 'it because of the number o plants in the world today," id Dr Keith Reemstma during hallenge Tuesday concerning the . Lai problems of transplants. "The scientific field has made 4l Lrmous advances in the last few LG said Dr. Reemstma, head fthe University's Department of S Leery at the College of edHne. "But a great many n thical problems have resulted 7f tause of these advances." p'The ethical problem can be tided into three categories," Ited the doctor. "Those of the -)tient, the donor and the tfhe patient's problem is not jrticularly difficult, especially L he is faced with the usual Lmative, death. Although the Licianmust present an appraisal the situation to the patient as "ompassionately and bight-forwardly as possible, the jal decision is left up to the jtient himself, continued Dr. jemstma. I "Much has been said lately about doctors interferring with a patients right to die. This concept can not be applied to people where the problem is that of a vital organ failing to function. Such victims are usually young with a great deal of living to do. They aren't 'kept' alive for life's sake, but rather to live what the patient feels is a happy, productive life," he said. Over 70 per cent of the transplant patients survive one year and a vast majority live much linger as can be seen by the 60 transplant cases we have had at the University, continued Dr. Reemstma. With artificial organs the problems are mostly those of mechanics and design. It is up to the patient to decide if it is worth being hooked up to an artificial kidney for six to eight hours, three or four times a week, for example, he said. Ethical Problems The problems of the donor There are two ethical approaches to the problem, stated Dr. Reemstma. The first is dogmatic stating that ethics originate from natural, unchanging laws. The pragmatic approach says only change is universal and as a result our ethics are changing. For the most part physicians are using the pragmatic method, thus making decisions on the possibilities of success on the evidence at hand. Scientists Are Aware being used for transplants," said Dr. Reemstma. "But from a logistical standpoint, vital organs survive only a few minutes. Especially when working with the heart and liver, it is a coincidence of time and space. From the legal point, traditionally the body of a deceased person belongs to the next of kin. But due to recent legislation in many states, such as that which was enacted in the last session of the Utah legislature, people are now able to donate parts of theirselves for the benefit of others before he dies." brings in new ethical dimensions, said Dr. Reemstma. It is a fact that the more closely related the patient and the donor are, the better the chances are for a successful transplant. But expecially when kidney transplants are the question there is great pressure on members of the family. This presents a philosophical problem to the physician because he has said in the physicians mandate that he will do no harm. Yet, he continued, if he is to take a kidney from one person and give it to another, he is endangering one life for the hope of another. "More and more cadavers are Non-Human Donors Research in the use of non-human donors is being done, explained Dr. Reemstma. The problems are great because the biological barrier is high, but a great future lies in this area. "The question of transplants and the use of artificial organs is a big one to the public," he said, "Especially because it is not fully understood." "The attitude of the public is that scientists are unconcerned with the consequences of their decisions," he said. "They have , the idea that scientists want to do what they can do, and they want to know what can be known, ! regardless. Contrary to this j opinion, scientists are aware. They : have failed though in informing t the public of their concern. Humanistic and scientific goals are j compatible." j "Economically, it is a question i of whether it is worth the great . amounts . of... money that are needed to care for the few people that are involved. The funding must compete with the general need. Scientists know what can be done, it is now a public decision that must be decided if the worth is great enough. It is now in the political ring." Other critics say society will experience a sort of reverse Darwinism, continued the doctor. That is a misconception because we are not dealing with genetic diseases, there can be no genetic deterioration, he said. Another serious problem is the loss of privacy experienced bv the patient and his family whenever there is an artifical organ or transplant. The public's right to know does not take precidence, he said. Students interested in t increasing University participation j in programs which involve minority groups may -sign a I petition in the student I government offices calling for 1 allotment of $4,985 of $50,000 "returned money" for an outreach ( center. j Petitions must be signed by noon Wednesday. The outreach j center, an urban and minority , center, will be located in a low j income section in SLC in which students and persons from th( j urban section of our community could relate to and assist each other in a mutually beneficial way. The Associated Students of the University of Utah received $50,000 as a return of the 1 state-wide 4 per cent cutback. The money must be spent by July 1. j l |
