Question

15. Discuss the ethical and legal issues related to a palliative care approach with respect to the following (30-40 words)

15.1 Organ donation

15.2 Request for autopsy

15.3 Decisions regarding ACD

Answer 1

The death of a human being is a irreversible loss and even after death the body should be treated with greater significance .Organ donation issue arises after the death of a person .So always when being alive register for organ donation as it is a very essential life providing procedure nowadays io .If the person has not given consent for organ donation his family members is at the position to decide about organ donation. Organ donation is an ethical decision as it is meant to benefit others. The feelings of the deceased person's family should be considered before requesting for organ donation.Always a physician should guide and help the family about organ donation by explaining the necessity.

Request for autopsy needs the consent of the family as it is done to find the cause of death .If the cause was accident , legally it should be accepted.

The person can donate organs or tissues if his heart has stopped beating , permanent cessation of breathing and if declared brain dead.Brain function is necessary for the all the systems in body to work. If brain is dead no actions are carried.Several tests are made to analyse whether the brain dead patient can be revived, if found impossible then the physician can talk with the family members about organ donation.Experienced doctors make individual decisions of a patient before declaring brain dead .The medical professional should understand the extreme sensitivity of the donation process and the trauma and grief that the donor families feel at the time of brain death.Legal disputes occur in these cases which can be resolved with help of law.