Organ Transplants: Ethical, Social, and Religious Issues in a Multicultural Society

Organ donation in South Africa – a call to action

“…There is a perception that religions such as Judaism and Islam are opposed to organ donation; however, religious scholars of both these religions have come out in support of organ donation. [11,12] Culture is not static and evolves over time; therefore it is essential that we as healthcare professionals engage with our SA communities to allow organ donation to become the norm. The most effective slogan is 'If you needed an organ, would you accept one?'…”

Regulations and Laws Governing Human Tissue Donation and Transplantation in the Field of Ethics in a Selected Group of Countries, Including the WHO

“…The diverse cultural, religious and traditional concepts may hamper the acceptability of organ donation and may cause a lack of willingness to donate organs. Therefore, it is important to consider and understand the ethical implications, social and religious issues in order to successfully promote donation and transplantation (Robson et al 2010). There are difference attitudes, due to racial and cultural, towards death and the sanctity of the human body, hence affecting consent for deceased donation.…”

“…Besides the social and religious issue of transplant, it is important to address the emotional issues faced by the family due to the loss of the loved one. The family would be in a state of crisis, overwhelmed with grief and that is to say not at their functional level (Robson et al 2010).…”

Brain death determination: the imperative for policy and legal initiatives in Sub-Saharan Africa

“…How would the 'seven days after death' be determined? There are many more both overt and nuanced views of what some have believed to be an artificial category imposed on a natural phenomenon, as a review of the history of the debate from a variety of disparate cultures and countries makes clear (Cohen, Ashkenazi, Katvan, & Singer, 2012;Keown, 2010;Robson, Razack, & Dublin, 2010;Yamazaki, 2013).…”