On Organ Donations
by Fr. Rodney Torbic
- Coming to a decision regarding being an organ donor requires careful consideration.
- What are the consequences if a person chooses not to be an organ donor?
- What does being an organ donor mean in precise terms.
- What limits exist regarding the giving of organs.
- What safeguards are taken to ensure respect of the body.
- Is there fairness in the distribution of organs.
- What precautions are taken to prevent a rush to obtain organs.
- Have Church writings been consulted in the decision-making process?
- What impact is made on family and friends when one chooses to be an organ donor?
- What impact is made on family and friends when one declines to be an organ donor?
- At what point does the potential giving of organs take place? Following death or prior to death?
- Who benefits from organ donations?
- How fair is the system of distribution?
- What independent evidence exists regarding the administration of organ donor programs?
- When the potential recipient is a family member or close friend, what are the pressures involved?
- Can organ donating be an act of Christian love?
- Can one freely choose not to be a donor when a critical need exists?
- Is the final decision made within an "Orthodox Christian" perspective?
- Is the body respected when one becomes an organ donor?
- What relationships develop between donor and recipient?
- How do organ donations change a donor and recipient?