A nuanced ethic for live kidney donations

IntroductionLike other countries, Poland relies on the altruism of potential kidney donors but has an insufficient number of organs available to meet the growing need for organ transplantation.AimWe investigate the ethics of non-altruistic kidney donations from the perspective of Jewish Medical Ethics, and consider how that ethic might work to alleviate the shortage in donations currently experienced by Poland and other countries.DiscussionJewish medical ethics outlines a nuanced response to this shortage, suggesting that the requirement for organs to be donated without any commercial consideration may be modified to allow compensating an organ donor for his or her time, discomfort, inconvenience and recovery. Compensating an organ donor is fully consistent with traditional Judaism's moral code and does not detract from the ethical quality of the donation.ConclusionsWhile non-altruistic sale of kidneys might be theoretically acceptable, it requires creating a state system to insure that potential donors are properly informed and not exploited; that medical screening and support of the donors to insure that their health is not permanently endangered is provided; that vulnerable potential donors are protected; and that payments are regulated so that they reasonably reflect compensation for pain and suffering.