Running Head: ESSENTIAL: ETHICAL LENS 1

Essential: Ethical Lens

Nathan G. Duffey
Frostburg State University









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In 2010, Hollywood presented mass audiences with a movie called Repo Men. This
movie starred a few B grade actors and failed to gain an audience in theaters. Repo Men was a
Hollywood bust and destined for the discount bins at the local Wal-Mart. As for the title of the
film one would think this is pretty self explanatory to what type of film this was going to be
without ever reading the synopsis. But this was no average sci-fi film about a bunch of repo men
working for a collection agency to repossess vehicles. This film did have a little creativity, the
repo men in this movie were tasked with repossessing artificial human organs. Set in the near
future organ shortage has become a significant disaster and many people require/need artificial
organs and organ donations. However these organs cost money and with the collapse of the
healthcare system the organs do not come with a small fee. These organs are astronomical in
price and once its in your body, you have to pay for it. Decide not to pay for it or miss a
payment, guess what? You will get a visit from the repo men. However when they take the
organ your body desperately needs to function then unfortunately you will die. Its encouraged
that you make your payments on time to avoid a visit from these untrained surgical repo men.
This movie detailed above is nothing more than a mere sci-fi story for sheer
entertainment and visual awe. However our medical advancements in the world are
unfathomable. Everyday a new cure, prevention injection, organ transplant, or research
advancements are made in this one specified system. The likelihood of the nation ever having
artificial-one-size fits-all organs in this world is probably not too far off. However the likelihood
of having these so called repo men collecting on unpaid organs is where Hollywood writers get
into fiction. Either way the purpose of this introduction was to paint a picture of what the world
may look like with the nation quickly becoming short on the amount of transplantable organs.
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The main purpose of this paper is to explore the topic of organ shortage alternatives and the
ethical and legal implications associated to the topic.
As in many areas of life there are always legal ramifications that need to be taken into
consideration. The topic of organ shortage alternatives is no different and in many areas a legal
powerhouse. Many laws and regulations are in place for hospitals to provide a protocol for
dealing with organ donations and cadavers. Section 1138, Title XI, of the Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1986 requires hospitals to establish organ procurement protocols or face
loss of Medicare or Medicaid funding (Pozgar, 94). Organ donation is a major component to the
healthcare system. Organ transplants have been studied and implemented for years now and have
made major advancements in the care that can now be provided to someone with a chronic
illness related to poor function of that organ. With a new organ the individual can then be as if an
organ were never needed. However there is a shortage of organs and organ donations. There are
also the deciding factors of organ rejection, blood types, and environmental factors. These
factors create a supply and demand system for organs, which in return causes an organ shortage.
With a chronic shortage of needed organs it is important to have alternatives to the conventional
human organs. Many alternatives are beginning to find new life as our shortage of organs
continues to grow. Some common alternatives that are currently being used is cartilage
transplants, bone marrow, cell encapsulation and stem cells (in certain areas of country). These
alternatives are able to be used by artificially mimicking the actions of the organ that is being
developed. Who knows, one day we may be able to grow a heart in a Petri dish.
When looking at this subject of organ shortage alternatives it is important to take into
consideration various ethical viewpoints, as well as acknowledgement of your own ethical
viewpoint. For purpose of review, the four ethical lenses are rights, reputation, results and
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relationship. The relationship lens would view this subject of fairness. The relationship lens
focuses on the process, support of organization and enhancement of relationships. Being these
are the principles of the relationship lens, it is safe to say that the relationship lens would support
organ alternatives if the implementation was carried out correctly with proper administration
over sight, support of the overall organizations mission and fair administration.
The results lens would view the subject as how can we create a greater good with
providing and offering organ alternatives. As research continues to improve on the current organ
alternatives, correlation between patient success rates increase and shortages decrease then I feel
like the results lens would be a strong proponent of alternative organs. The results lens focuses
on the goals, greatest good achieved, maximizing satisfaction and efficiency. As these areas are
met positive reviews from research and reporting then having the results vote would be
guaranteed.
The reputation lens would view this subject though lens that focused on integrity and
professionalism associated with the topic. I feel like this lens would be the perfect balance to the
other lenses associated with the ethical views. The reputation would be the professional and
intellectual view while the other views more so on individual roles and emotional feelings. The
reputation would see the organ alternative as how it would affect the hospital and the human
receiving the treatments and would likely institute the rules associated around the views.
The final lens the right lens, which is the ethical viewpoint that this writer associates in,
would focus on the rights of the client, hospital, motives behind alternatives and individual
freedom to make the decisions on the products in their body. This writer associates himself more
so with this stance and lens because the feelings of individual freedom, individual accountability,
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and principles should be the focus of all decisions that one makes for him/her. The topic of organ
alternatives is one that is confrontational, similar to that of even abortion, but feels that the
individual is control over governing the dos and donts of the body.
My own ethical viewpoint is exposed in the previous paragraph relating to ethical lenses.
I feel strongly that as we as a nation continue to grow smarter and make medical advancements
we will truly see some miracles arise. We can already construct organs with cellular
encapsulation and with cartilage manipulation. To think we have some organs being made in
labs, the alternatives will be a welcomed reward to the healthcare system. On a daily basis
someone dies to the fact of needing an organ transplant. Due to the shortage of organs in the
world and lack of implementation of alternative organs we are failing our patients who
desperately seek our help. In summary, I dont feel that we will ever have a total collapse of the
healthcare system that will require us to privatize organs and have repo men hunt us down for
back payments. However I do feel that if we dont explore and add more research and
implementation to the field of organ alternatives then we will continue the increase in the decrase
of organs for transplant patients.






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References
Ethics Game (2012). Professional ethics lens inventory. Retrieved from
http://www.ethicsgame.com/Exec/Eli/EthicalLensResults.aspx?R=1
Pozgar, G. D. (2013). Legal and ethical issues for health professionals. Burlington, MA: Jones &
Bartlett
Learning.