title: Ethical guidelines for the evaluation of living organ donors.
abstract: Transplantation is an effective, life-prolonging treatment for organ failure. Demand has steadily increased over the past decade, creating a shortage in the supply of organs. In addition, the number of deceased organ donors has reached a plateau. Living-donor transplantation is increasingly an option, influenced by favourable clinical outcomes and increased waiting times at most transplant centres across North America. Living-donor kidney transplants have exceeded deceased-donor transplant rates at some centres. Organ donations from living donors have challenged transplant programs to develop a framework for determining donor acceptability. After a multidisciplinary consensus-building process of discussion and debate, the Multi-Organ Transplant Program of the University Health Network in Toronto has developed ethical guidelines for these procedures. These proposed guidelines address ethical concerns related to selection criteria and procedures, voluntariness, informed consent and disclosure of risks and benefits to both donor and recipient.
authors.affiliation: Joint Centre for Bioethics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. linda.wright@uhn.on.ca
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Faith
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grant
mesh_terms: D026690:Ethics, Clinical; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D019520:Living Donors / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D009864:Ontario; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000941:ethics*; D018579:Patient Selection / Q000941:ethics; D014342:Truth Disclosure / Q000941:ethics; D014838:Volunteers / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence