Relay kidney transplantation in Korea--legal, ethical and medical aspects.
Living kidney transplantations constitute the majority of kidney transplantations in Korea. Recently, relay kidney transplantation, which is a modified form of both 'exchange transplantation' and 'living anonymous donation', has become at issue. After a living anonymous donor makes the initial donation, the next donor, who is related to the first recipient, makes the second donation; the third donor, who is related to the second recipient, makes the third donation; and so on. In relay kidney transplantation, organ trafficking, coercion of donation, assessment order, breach of agreement, and recipient burden should be evaluated with respect to ethical, legal and medical considerations. Despite these problems, a non-governmental body, the Korean Organ and Tissue Donor Program, has been promoting relay kidney transplantations to address the shortage of cadaveric kidney donations. Acceptance of the method of relay kidney transplantation requires the institution of supplementary measures to minimize the related problems.
Park
Jong-Hyun
JH
Seoul National University College of Law, Seoul, South Korea.
Park
Joong-Won
JW
Koo
Young-Mo
YM
Kim
Jang Han
JH
D026688:Bioethical Issues; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000379:methods; D007723:Korea; D019520:Living Donors / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D028701:Patient Rights / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence