Is Organ Donation Ethical?

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There is a village in Pakistan where 75% of the population have donated their organs, triggering a debate worldwide whether organ donation was ethical. It has become a multi-million dollar business of the rich in that part of the world. From the ongoing discussions, I realize that there are favorable opinions and not so favorable opinions regarding organ donations. There are sectors of the society which do not favor organ donation, usually from the religious sector. They warn of the danger of the so-called “commoditization of organs”, springing from the idea that what is not in use is for sale. There is actually no sense of ownership. It removes responsibility of individual of his own body. It has no altruistic motivation at all. One favorable idea for organ donation is that it saves somebody else’s life. Do not majority of organized religions believe on the importance of sacrificing oneself for others? Christians hold that Christ offered his life so that “others may live”. We are just stewards of our own body which we do not own. God has full ownership of His creation, including our physical body and its parts. Organ donation is the most altruistic act a human being does to his fellow human being, giving the latter a new lease on life. I used to attend a First Aid Training Seminar by the Red Cross. And it was there that I learned that people can override ethical discussions regarding organ donation if the individual person carries an “organ donor” card, in case of death. I find this the safest way to avoid legal complications especially in countries where there is a lacuna in view of donating organs. Photo credits: Pixabay