[Avodah] Murder

[Meir Shinnar]

RAF
>
> But I must admit that I do wonder about whether accepting organs may
> represent a more active involvement in taking them than is generally
> acknowledged. Can a doctor join this conversation, please?
>
Not to go into hoary details, but yes, there is an active involvement
- involving that one has to actively register and show commitment to
wanting a transplant, being willing to show up at the time prescribed
for the transplant, etc - which do not directly affect the donor
(although time, at least for minor delays, may) , but also that the
evaluation of the donor is tailored to the requests of the
institutions where the recipients will receive the transplant - so the
donor may undergo invasive procedures (such as cardiac catheterization
for heart transplants) specifically because it is desired by the
institution for that patient, and would not otherwise undergo.  The
patient, through his physician, is directing what is being done to the
donor.
Furthermore, at the time that cardiac death (as distinct from brain
death) is induced, and the organs harvested - this is done
specifically for the sake of specfied donors = who are frequently
already in the operating room, and with anesthesia if not surgery
started, awaiting arrival of the organ.  It is NOT the case that the
organ is available, and then you are asked would you like to receive
this organ that we have...

Meir Shinnar