Organ donation after medically assisted death on psychiatric grounds: an ethical analysis
Organ donation after medical assistance in dying (MAID) on psychiatric grounds is a relatively new practice that poses complex ethical challenges. This paper explores several ethical issues that are important for guiding current and future practice. While organ donation after MAID may alleviate orga...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1574900/full |
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| author | Karlijn van Vlerken Radboud Marijnissen Rosalie Pronk Guy Widdershoven Sisco van Veen |
| author_facet | Karlijn van Vlerken Radboud Marijnissen Rosalie Pronk Guy Widdershoven Sisco van Veen |
| author_sort | Karlijn van Vlerken |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Organ donation after medical assistance in dying (MAID) on psychiatric grounds is a relatively new practice that poses complex ethical challenges. This paper explores several ethical issues that are important for guiding current and future practice. While organ donation after MAID may alleviate organ shortages, it also prompts concerns regarding the instrumentalization of human life. However, it can be argued that if a patient wishes to donate, based on insight and deliberation, the person is not just regarded as a means. This implies that decision-making capacity is crucial, which requires considering the potential influence of psychiatric disorders. A further issue that can compromise decision-making is susceptibility to external pressures. Careful assessment of the patient’s decision-making capacity and the absence of external pressure are needed to avoid the stigmatization of individuals with psychiatric conditions. Further research to better understand the possible interplay between psychiatric disorders and decision-making capacity in the context of organ donation after MAID is recommended. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-82c928ddca744e7e862217de5b86d42b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj-art-82c928ddca744e7e862217de5b86d42b2025-08-20T03:53:52ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402025-05-011610.3389/fpsyt.2025.15749001574900Organ donation after medically assisted death on psychiatric grounds: an ethical analysisKarlijn van Vlerken0Radboud Marijnissen1Rosalie Pronk2Guy Widdershoven3Sisco van Veen4Department of Medical Ethics, Philosophy and History, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, NetherlandsDepartment of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), University of Groningen, Groningen, NetherlandsIQ Healthcare, Radboud University Medical Center (UMC), Nijmegen, NetherlandsDepartment of Ethics, Law and Medical Humanities, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, NetherlandsDepartment of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, NetherlandsOrgan donation after medical assistance in dying (MAID) on psychiatric grounds is a relatively new practice that poses complex ethical challenges. This paper explores several ethical issues that are important for guiding current and future practice. While organ donation after MAID may alleviate organ shortages, it also prompts concerns regarding the instrumentalization of human life. However, it can be argued that if a patient wishes to donate, based on insight and deliberation, the person is not just regarded as a means. This implies that decision-making capacity is crucial, which requires considering the potential influence of psychiatric disorders. A further issue that can compromise decision-making is susceptibility to external pressures. Careful assessment of the patient’s decision-making capacity and the absence of external pressure are needed to avoid the stigmatization of individuals with psychiatric conditions. Further research to better understand the possible interplay between psychiatric disorders and decision-making capacity in the context of organ donation after MAID is recommended.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1574900/fullmedical assistance in dyingorgan donationdecision-making capacityautonomystigmatization |
| spellingShingle | Karlijn van Vlerken Radboud Marijnissen Rosalie Pronk Guy Widdershoven Sisco van Veen Organ donation after medically assisted death on psychiatric grounds: an ethical analysis Frontiers in Psychiatry medical assistance in dying organ donation decision-making capacity autonomy stigmatization |
| title | Organ donation after medically assisted death on psychiatric grounds: an ethical analysis |
| title_full | Organ donation after medically assisted death on psychiatric grounds: an ethical analysis |
| title_fullStr | Organ donation after medically assisted death on psychiatric grounds: an ethical analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Organ donation after medically assisted death on psychiatric grounds: an ethical analysis |
| title_short | Organ donation after medically assisted death on psychiatric grounds: an ethical analysis |
| title_sort | organ donation after medically assisted death on psychiatric grounds an ethical analysis |
| topic | medical assistance in dying organ donation decision-making capacity autonomy stigmatization |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1574900/full |
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