Ethical Controversies in Organ Transplantation

WHO has condemned the commercialization of organs in several occasions, starting from the decision of the General assembly No. 40.13 in year 1987 and No. 42.5 in year 1989, and requested the countries to consolidate efforts to implement the decision, then the decision No. 44.25 for the year 1991 which has adopted the first draft of the WHO guiding principles regarding the human cells, tissues and organs transplantation, and which has contoured the methodological and ethical standard framework.

Among the most important recommendations issued by the general assembly, are those issued in its fifty-seventh session (decision 57.18) in may 2004, where the organization has required from the member countries the necessity of existence of an actual supervision on the organ transplantation, and promotion of both living and deceased donation, and to take the necessary measures to protect the poorest and exposed to the organs transplantation tourism. In year 2008, the guiding principles of the WHO have been updated regarding the human cells, tissues and organs transplantation. They were adopted by the executive council in its session held in November 2008 these guidelines are.

• Consent for deceased donation

• No conflict between physicians determining death

• Deceased but also live consenting donors

• Minors and incompetent persons be protected

• No sale or purchase

• Promotion of donation no advertising nor brokering

• Physician responsibility on origin of transplant

• Justifiable professional fees

• Allocation rules

• Quality safety efficacy of procedures and transplants

• Transparency and anonymity