The Utilitarian Theory of Organ Donation

In this paper I will be using the normative theory of utilitarianism as the best defensible approach to increase organ donations. Utilitarianism is a theory that seeks to increase the greatest good for the greatest amount of people (Pense2007, 61). The utilitarian theory is the best approach because it maximizes adult organ donations (which are the greater good) so that the number of lives saved would increase along with the quality of life, and also saves money and time.

A utilitarian would argue that organ donations save lives because when citizens continue to donate their organs, more lives are spared. Gregory Pence mentioned in his book titled “Classic Works in Medical Ethics” that three thousand Americans lose their lives while waiting for an organ transplant. Nevertheless, if organ donations become prevalent it would save or prolong some of the lives in America (Pense, 2007, 75). For example the risk of a kidney transplant ending in death or disabilities is three to ten thousand and in comparison to liposuction the risks are relatively the same (Pense, 2007, 62). A utilitarian would argue that people would rather help theirselves through liposuction instead of helping others. Other theorists such as Kant fail to realize the experience of donating an organ outweighs the potential harm to the donor (Pense, 2007, 62). Adult organ donations can be taken from people that have been recently deceased. This means that there is no physical harm or risk to the person donating the organ. Nonetheless, doctors using donated organs from the recently deceased to save many lives, would create good consequences for the organ recipient population. The chance of organ donations succeeding is greater than the negative outcome (Pense 2007, p ...

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...dividual’s self- interest would be diminished because the option to act would be done when the organ donor is recently deceased, therefore taking an organ from the donor would no longer be used to fulfil one’s ego.

Works Cited

Cohen, Carl. Benjamin, Martin. Arbor, Ann. “Alcoholics and Liver Transplantation.” In Classic Works in Medical Ethics: Core Philosophical Readings, edited by Gregory E. Pence, 247-261. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1998.

Mulgan, Tim. Understanding Utilitarianism.Stocksfield: Acumen, 2007.

Pence, Gregory E. “Kant's Critique of Adult Organ Donation.” In The Elements of Bioethics. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2007.

Sinnott-Armstrong, Walter, "Consequentialism", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2011 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), forthcoming URL = .