The field of transplant ethics is a specialty within the practice of clinical ethics.  The goals of transplant ethics are to promote the integrity of transplant medicine, and the welfare of living donors and organ recipients.  Because organs are very scarce and a precious gift, transplant ethics aims for organ allocation to those with the capacity to benefit from it.


There are many ethical dilemmas and complex situations that can arise during transplant and organ donation.  Examples of transplant dilemmas include the following:

--Ethics assessment of fulminant patients;
--Transplantation for those who are uninsured or underinsured;
--Assessment of patients expressing ambivalence about pursuing transplant;
--Assessment of patients with compliance problems;
--Assuring that living donations are without coercion and conflict of interest;
--Assessments of those who are non-residents/foreign nationals or those with mental health issues, or those presented for re-transplantation;
--Policy matters such as organ tourism (issues relating to treating patients who have obtained organs in foreign countries), internet solicitation of living donors, and extended criteria organs (e.g., organs from older donors).

Additionally, the ethicist can work wtih cardiac teams and patients who are considering permanent or bridge use of ventricular assist devices.