How do you decide who’s “worthy” of an organ transplant?

The recent media coverage surrounding transplants being given to people with alcohol-related liver damage raises some interesting questions over the issue of organ donation and who should and shouldn’t be “entitled” to a liver transplant. It’s also an issue that probably deserves more attention and a fuller debate than a few column inches in the newspapers.

I agree with the points Dr Tony Calland (Chair of the BMA’s ethics committee) makes about organs being a precious resource and we certainly don’t have an endless supply of them.

Jeremy Laurance, the Health Editor of 'The Independent' makes a valid point too when he says “This is a judgement about the balance of risk and benefit, and is taken with the sole interests of the patient in mind.”

Of course for anyone who disagrees, please feel free to say so here, by posting a comment on this blog.