Medical ethics & autonomy
Should presumed consent (opt-out) govern organ donation, with no relative veto?
LNAT Section B ยท Founder's essay plan
The essay question
"Relatives have no place in organ donation decisions: everyone should be deemed to give consent to use of their organs after death unless they carry a 'no-consent' card." Do you agree?
The plan
"Relatives have no place in organ donation decisions: everyone should be deemed to give consent to use of their organs after death unless they carry a 'no-consent' card." Do you agree?
Stance: For the proposal (opt-out / presumed consent with no relative veto), but with narrowly defined safeguards to protect autonomy and trust.
Definitions
- Deemed consent / opt-out: a legal regime where organs may be used for transplantation unless the deceased registered refusal in life.
- Relative veto: the current UK practice of allowing families to override recorded wishes or presumed consent, leading to lost donations.
- Moral baseline: the autonomy of the deceased (via a "no-consent" card) must trump third-party objections.
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