PMID: 7540198Apr 1, 1995Paper

Decisions not to transplant: futility or rationing

The Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing
E G CollinsG J Mozdzierz

Abstract

Since the 1980s, heart transplantation has become an acceptable treatment therapy for patients with end-stage congestive heart failure. In recent years, the demand for heart transplantation has exceeded the supply of available organs. Potential transplant candidates undergo rigorous screening to determine which patients will be offered transplantation as a treatment option. Heart transplant recipients are selected based on a determination of which patients will experience an improvement in symptomatology, functional class ability, and life expectancy after transplantation. Refusal of transplantation for an individual patient is usually framed in a futility argument: Either transplantation will not benefit the patient or the risks involved in undergoing the transplant are considered to outweigh the benefits. However, futility is an elusive and ambiguous concept. Furthermore, although authors, clinicians, and ethicists argue for the separation of futility and rationing issues, clearly it is not always possible to do so. The purpose of this article is to argue that many decisions to refuse heart transplantation are actually based on the rationing of organs and not on futility.

Citations

Jan 19, 2011·The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery·Rupali GandhiRavi R Thiagarajan
Apr 19, 2020·Current Opinion in Organ Transplantation·Francois FaitotThierry Artzner

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation : the Official Publication of the International Society for Heart Transplantation
Douglas MahChristopher S D Almond
The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation : the Official Publication of the International Society for Heart Transplantation
S Chris MalaisrieBruce A Reitz
The New England Journal of Medicine
John D BirkmeyerDavid E Wennberg
American Journal of Transplantation : Official Journal of the American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons
T M EganF L Grover
The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation : the Official Publication of the International Society for Heart Transplantation
D G RenlundRobert E Shaddy
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved