title: Ethical issues with nondirected ("good samaritan") kidney donation for transplantation.
abstract: "Good samaritan" donation has been of great interest in Italy. At the request of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, the National Committee on Bioethics expressed its opinion on the matter. While highlighting its controversial aspects, the assessment was favorable. The National Council for Health established working criteria. Yet eminent bioethicists sharing the same values have reached discordant conclusions. Legal developments leading to the authorization of living donor kidney transplants from blood relatives or emotionally close individuals may offer a path for ethical assessment of the practice.
authors.affiliation: Bioethics Unit, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy. carlo.petrini@iss.it
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Petrini
mesh_terms: D000533:Altruism; D037921:Gift Giving / Q000941:ethics*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D019520:Living Donors / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D009042:Motivation; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence