The dilemma and reality of transplant tourism: an ethical perspective for liver transplant programs.
Transplant programs are likely to encounter increasing numbers of patients who return after receiving an organ transplant abroad. These patients will require ongoing medical care to monitor their immunosuppression and to provide treatment when the need arises. Transplant societies have condemned transplantation with organs purchased abroad and with organs procured from executed prisoners in China. Nevertheless, transplant programs require guidance on how to respond to the needs of returning transplant tourists and to the needs of patients who may choose to become transplant tourists. This discussion presents a case that raised such issues in our program. It goes on to offer reasons for considering a program's responses in terms of the most relevant principles of medical ethics, namely beneficence and nonjudgmental regard.
Schiano
Thomas D
TD
Division of Liver Diseases, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York 10029, NY. thomas.schiano@mountsinai.org
Rhodes
Rosamond
R
D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000941:ethics*; D008297:Male; D057193:Medical Tourism / Q000941:ethics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012086:Reoperation / Q000941:ethics*; D018805:Sepsis; D014850:Waiting Lists