Revise General Considerations In Assessment for Transplant Candidacy

At a glance

Background

The Ethics Committee first published this white paper in 1998 and revised it in 2015. The Committee decided to revisit the paper again in order to update some sections and add new information.

Transplant programs develop their own polices and criteria for determining if a patient should be added to the waiting list. This white paper addresses ethical considerations about the use of non-medical criteria when evaluating a potential transplant candidate.

Supporting media

Presentation

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Ethical considerations

• The criteria discussed in this white paper were selected because they are not directly part of a medical evaluation for transplant candidacy, but are important enough to warrant consideration. The ethical considerations of the following criteria are discussed in this white paper and can help transplant programs with their listing decisions:
  • Life Expectancy
  • Potentially Injurious Behavior
  • Adherence
  • Repeat Transplantation
  • Incarceration Status
  • Immigration Status
  • Social Support

Anticipated impact

• This white paper is not policy that transplant programs must use when evaluating potential transplant candidates. Instead, the white paper can be used as a resource for transplant programs to consider as part of their potential transplant candidate evaluations.

Terms to know

• Utility: is an ethical principle used in the analysis of the white paper looking at what has the greatest benefit for the entire community.
• Justice: another ethical principle used in the analysis of the white paper which considers the fair pattern of distribution of benefits.
• Respect for Persons: the third ethical principle used in the analysis of the white paper meaning the respect of a person’s right to make an informed decision on their own without outside pressure.
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