Ethics council reverses stand on anencephalic organ donors

Article Abstract:

The American Medical Association's Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs has decided to return to its former stance permitting organ donation only from anencephalic infants that have died. The decision reverses a formal opinion that allowed organ donation from live infants, which had been debated for 18 months. However, eminent ethicist Alexander M. Capron said that the new stance fails to change the underlying implication that any patients near death with lower brain function could be considered candidates for live organ donation, in contrast to those with higher brain function.

Health Care and Social Assistance, Surgical Transplants, Standards, Social policy, American Medical Association, Donation of organs, tissues, etc., Tissue donation

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Anencephalic babies: appropriate donors?

Article Abstract:

The Florida Supreme Court will decide in a case beginning in Sep 1992 whether anencephalic infants can be declared legally dead at birth so that their organs can be removed for transplantation in others. The debate raises significant medical, moral and public policy issues because anencephalic infants are born alive even though only 5% live beyond one week. Causing death by removing an anencephalic infant's organs is considered homicide in all states, but waiting until death to remove the organs would result in their deterioration, making most of the organs unusable.

Laws, regulations and rules, Disabled children, Brain death

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Florida high court asked to declare anencephalics 'dead.' (anencephalic infants would be declared dead at birth so that their organs can be transplanted)

Article Abstract:

The Florida Supreme Court is being asked to declare anencephalic children legally dead at birth so that their organs can be transplanted immediately. The parents of Theresa Ann Campo Pearson, supported by the American Civil Liberties Union, will receive a ruling on their plea in fall. Critics - state Attorney General Robert A. Butterworth among them - argue that a decision to terminate the lives of such children will violate all existing federal and state laws protecting the disabled and will promote infanticide and euthanasia.

Campo Pearson, Theresa Ann

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