title: [Reciprocal altruism--the resurrection of an old ethical principle in the Israeli organ transplant law].
abstract: The new Israeli Organ Transplant Law grants priority in organ allocation to candidates for transplantation who have registered as organ donors at least 3 years prior to being listed or have been Live organ donors or have a first degree relative who has been a deceased donor. This unique law resurrects the old ethical principle of reciprocal altruism in which each partner in society helps the other while he helps himself. The altruist benefits because in time he, in turn, is helped. The law aims to eliminate the "free riding" phenomenon of candidates for organ transplantation who do not accept brain death and therefore object to organ donation after death yet do not abstain from waiting for such donation. The morality of such behavior is discussed along with the ethical appraisal of its solution in the law, suggesting it to be just and fair.
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lavee
mesh_terms: D000533:Altruism; D001926:Brain Death; D015276:Health Care Rationing / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D013997:Time Factors; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*