title: Cultural diversity and patients with reduced capacity: the use of ethics consultation to advocate for mentally handicapped persons in living organ donation.
abstract: Living organ donation will soon become the source of the majority of organs donations for transplant. Should mentally handicapped people be allowed to donate, or should they be considered a vulnerable group in need of protection? I discuss three cases of possible living organ donors who are developmentally disabled, from three different cultures, the United States, Germany, and India. I offer a brief discussion of three issues raised by the cases: (1) cultural diversity and cultural relativism; (2) autonomy, rationality, and self-interest; and (3) the proper use and role for clinical ethics consults.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Spike
mesh_terms: D018864:Cultural Diversity; D026724:Ethical Review; D033061:Ethics Consultation; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D038622:Internationality; D019520:Living Donors; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D019989:Persons with Intellectual Disabilities; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement; D035862:Vulnerable Populations