Organ Allocation Policies 10 Years After UNESCO's Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights.
BACKGROUND
October 19, 2015, marked the 10th anniversary of the adoption by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) of the "Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights," which was signed by representatives of the 191 member states of the conference. The declaration is of major importance: it was the first legally binding document approved by a global organization to address the whole range of subjects covered by bioethics.


RESULTS
Among the principles laid down in the declaration, those most relevant for the allocation of organs are benefit and harm (Article 4), equality, justice and equity (Article 10), nondiscrimination and nonstigmatization (Article 11), solidarity and cooperation (Article 13), social responsibility and health (including access to quality health care; Article 14), and sharing of benefits (Article 15).


CONCLUSIONS
Policies concerning the allocation of organs cannot disregard the principles affirmed in the Declaration.
Bioethics Unit, Office of the President, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: carlo.petrini@iss.it.
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Petrini
D001675:Bioethics; D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006806:Human Rights / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D012935:Social Justice; D012941:Social Responsibility; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014480:United Nations / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*