Transcript The Liver Transplant Problem

The Liver Transplant Problem
WHO WOULD YOU SAVE?
Background
Today, the only medical procedure available to save
the lives of persons suffering from diseases of the liver
is an organ transplant. Unfortunately, there are not
enough livers to take care of all cases now, and there
will not be enough in the near future to save the lives
of all those in need.
Your Role
Your hospital has decided that the best way to select
persons for a transplant is by setting up a volunteer
citizens panel to make these decisions. Medical criteria
are no longer the only reasons that can be considered
for transplant patients. You are on the panel. Doctors
have screened all patients, and all have equal
prognosis for medical success.
Problem
There is one liver available. Anyone who does not
receive a liver now will die. If you cannot make a
decision in the next 20 minutes, the liver will expire
and everyone will die. You can save only one…
Directions
Your panel must make a unanimous decision regarding the
person to be the liver recipient. A lottery of any kind
(drawing a name out of a hat, etc.) violates institutional
ethics and is not an acceptable strategy. As you deliberate,
consider your values, those of your panel mates, and those
of everyone related to the process. Consider each of the
following as your make your decision and be ready to
defend each:
1. The criteria you develop for choosing the recipient.
2. Why you believe that the person you chose best fits
your criteria.
3. How your panel arrives at a single selection of a
recipient.
Liver Transplant Recipient Profile Sheet
Code
Age
Race
Sex
Marital
Status
Religion
# of
Children
Occupation
A
24
Black
M
Married
Muslim
0
Postal
Worker
B
45
White
M
Married
Atheist
2
Executive
C
39
Asian-American
F
Divorced
Buddhist
0
Medical
Doctor
D
40
White
F
Married
Jew
3
Housewife
E
23
White
M
Single
Lutheran
0
PhD student
F
40
White
F
Single
Pentecostal
9
Welfare
Mother
G
28
Native
American
M
Single
Native
3
Seasonal
Worker
H
30
Latina
F
Married
Catholic
7
Housewife
I
19
White
M
Single
LDS
0
Special
Student
Code
Age
A
24
B
Race
Sex
Marital
Status
Black
M
M
45
White
M
C
39
AsianAmerican
D
40
E
Religion
# of
kids
Job
Additional Info
Muslim
0
Postal Worker
Devotes time to volunteer
work for black organizations
M
Atheist
2
Executive
Possible candidate for U.S.
Senate
F
D
Buddhist
0
Medical
Doctor
College physician and
feminist speaker
White
F
M
Jew
3
Housewife
Active in local synagogue
and charitable activities
23
White
M
S
Lutheran
0
PhD student
Western States chair of a gay
rights task force
F
40
White
F
S
Pentecostal
9
Welfare
Mother
Advocate and organizer of
welfare mothers
G
28
Native
American
M
S
Native
3
Seasonal
Worker
State chair, Indian Treaty
Rights Organization
H
30
Latina
F
M
Catholic
7
Housewife
Blind and physically
disabled
I
19
White
M
S
LDS
0
Special
Student
Cognitively disabled