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ISSUES

Social Issues

  • There is a greater potential for implanted devices to not be regarded by persons as part of their own body, because some say individuals have the right to decide what to do with their cells, while others believe that people don't actually own their bodies.

  • The crucial question is: what are the chances of success or rehabilitation considering the physical, mental, and financial risks, or stress involved in the procedure?

  • Who should get first priority, the elderly or the young? Most say the younger individuals should get first priority because they still have their whole lives in front of them. Others question whether sober patients should get priority over alcoholic patients because they are ruining their organs by intoxication, anyways.

Ethical Issues

  • A major concern is the possible presence of the disease in the base tissue which is used to create the organ. Sometimes, a foreign body tissue is used to regenerate or reconstruct the organ. In such cases, there is a possibility that the tissue is already infected by other diseases.

  • There are high chances of organ failure with human organ transplants, but the body may even take more time to adapt to a synthetic organ. How the body reacts to the new organ may vary from person to person. If there is a problem with the functioning of the organ, the patient may need another transplant, which can be expensive.

  • There is a possibility that people might misuse the option of an artificial organ. For example, smokers may not take the consequences seriously, and choose artificial organ therapy instead of avoiding nicotine. Also, due to limited supplies, middle-class patients may not have the same opportunity as the wealthier individuals, who may request treatment regardless of the current stage of their disease. 

Legal Issues

  • Patients' health is being jeopardized by the relentless progression of disease and failure of an organ, which earns them every right to seek/consent to therapeutic procedures that may prolong life and alleviate distress.

  • Lists are long because supply is low, and those with insurance based healthcare, which favors the wealthy, cannot afford the cost of securing a much needed transplant, in a life threatening state.

  • A black market for organ trafficking can become an issue. Criminals may use this opportunity to create a profitable business. For example, desperate people often agree to have their organs removed in exchange for income. This can lead to poor-quailty organs being used in surgical procedures, putting the recipient at risk for complications. 

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