The BBC programme “The Big Questions” once again raised the important subject of organ donation as part of the ethical debate today.  This was prompted by the announcement in the press that David Blunkett has opted to donate his brain to dementia research.  As a Humanist this is something which I feel quite strongly about, and for me it is a matter of personal conscience.

If I can help someone else to live on after my death then I have a moral responsibility to do so.  At the end of my life, if my body can useful help another person live, improve their quality of life, or progress medical research then I do so gladly.

I have discussed this with my wife, and she also shares my views on organ donation.  We are both on the national organ donor register, and if anything happened to either one of us we would not hesitate to offer up the other’s organs without a second thought.

What is interesting is the variety of philosophical, ethical and religious things that play on people’s minds when making the decision on donation. 

Even though the majority of the Muslim commentators on the show this morning did not agree with organ donation my own research shows opinion is divided in the Muslim community.  Dr Indarjit Singh, Director of the Network of Sikh Organisations is quoted on the NHS web site to help promote organ donation.  The Pagan Federation has no religious or moral objections, and in Hinduism the Bhagavad Gita speaks quite often of diving freely and self sacrifice.  These are just a few examples, but clearly there are mixed opinions because some religious views will not allow receipt of donated tissue or organs either.

I believe that most Humanists would share the view that organ donation, or donating the body for the advancement of medical research is a positive gesture. 

There are however some other ethical concerns to be considered with organ donation.  Who will get my organs? Why do they need them? Do they deserve them?  You may recall case of George Best, who received a liver transplant due to his alcoholism, are people like him less deserving of our compassion?  What if the recipient is a smoker?  Another example is of 19 year old Gareth Anderson who after a weekend of binge drinking suffered liver failure.  Where does the priority for donated organs lie?

For some people this will be a difficult decision to make for others it will not.  I have to place my faith and trust in the people running the system, that they will act in good conscience and act in the best interests of all the potential recipients.  Why?  Because for my organs to be incinerated or buried in the ground to rot, is the ultimate waste of life.