Kidney Exchange and the Ethics of Giving

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Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)85-110
Number of pages26
JournalJournal of Ethics and Social Philosophy
Volume18
Issue number1
Early online date16 Jan 2020
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2020

Abstract

The best treatment for end-stage renal disease is the transplantation of a live donor kidney, but many people cannot donate to their loved ones because they are incompatible. Kidney exchange promises relief. Kidney exchange programmes use centralised procedures to match donors with recipients in a way that maximises the quantity and quality of transplants. However, the transplant laws in many countries render kidney exchange programmes impossible because of ethical concerns against these programmes or against kinds of kidney donations on which these programmes rely. I give two novel arguments for the implementation of kidney exchange programmes. The first is that they are instrumental in meeting a moral obligation, namely to donate effectively. The second is that they may increase the motivation for altruistic donations, because the donation of one kidney may trigger >1 life savings. Moreover, ethical concerns are considered that are embodied in transplant laws preventing the implementation of kidney exchange, and it is argued that they can be overcome.

Cite this

Kidney Exchange and the Ethics of Giving. / van Baßhuysen, Philippe Carl.
In: Journal of Ethics and Social Philosophy, Vol. 18, No. 1, 07.2020, p. 85-110.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer review

van Baßhuysen, PC 2020, 'Kidney Exchange and the Ethics of Giving', Journal of Ethics and Social Philosophy, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 85-110. https://doi.org/10.26556/jesp.v18i1.895
van Baßhuysen, P. C. (2020). Kidney Exchange and the Ethics of Giving. Journal of Ethics and Social Philosophy, 18(1), 85-110. https://doi.org/10.26556/jesp.v18i1.895
van Baßhuysen PC. Kidney Exchange and the Ethics of Giving. Journal of Ethics and Social Philosophy. 2020 Jul;18(1):85-110. Epub 2020 Jan 16. doi: 10.26556/jesp.v18i1.895
van Baßhuysen, Philippe Carl. / Kidney Exchange and the Ethics of Giving. In: Journal of Ethics and Social Philosophy. 2020 ; Vol. 18, No. 1. pp. 85-110.
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abstract = "The best treatment for end-stage renal disease is the transplantation of a live donor kidney, but many people cannot donate to their loved ones because they are incompatible. Kidney exchange promises relief. Kidney exchange programmes use centralised procedures to match donors with recipients in a way that maximises the quantity and quality of transplants. However, the transplant laws in many countries render kidney exchange programmes impossible because of ethical concerns against these programmes or against kinds of kidney donations on which these programmes rely. I give two novel arguments for the implementation of kidney exchange programmes. The first is that they are instrumental in meeting a moral obligation, namely to donate effectively. The second is that they may increase the motivation for altruistic donations, because the donation of one kidney may trigger >1 life savings. Moreover, ethical concerns are considered that are embodied in transplant laws preventing the implementation of kidney exchange, and it is argued that they can be overcome.",
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