In an opinion piece (in response to a Stuff NZ article on organ donations and assisted dying), Dr John Kleinsman of the Nathaniel Centre for Bioethics argues against combining organ donation with assisted dying in New Zealand, despite organ shortages. He highlights concerns around coercion, emphasizing the societal pressure that could make vulnerable people feel compelled to choose assisted dying or face societal expectations.
While doctors can legally refuse to participate in assisted dying, those on organ retrieval teams are inevitably connected to the process of ending life. He points out that, although the public might see ending a patient’s life and organ retrieval as separate, in practice, the medical teams must work closely together. Essentially, the organ retrieval team, whether they consent or not, will play a role in how the patient dies, making them inherently connected with the act of directly, intentionally, and prematurely ending a patient’s life. This threatens the conscientious objection rights of doctors who entered medicine to save lives, not end them, and may even exclude doctors from minority ethnic or religious backgrounds who are uncomfortable with assisted dying.
Organ recipients won’t be told if their donor died through assisted dying, which violates their autonomy. Dr Kleinsman notes that 35% of New Zealanders opposed assisted dying in the 2020 referendum, making transparency about donor circumstances crucial for respecting recipients’ right to make informed decisions.
Dr Kleinsman argues that while organ donation is normally a generous gift, the utilitarian argument of increasing organ supply by the likes of Organ Donation New Zealand (ODNZ) isn’t a sufficient justification when weighed against these ethical concerns.
*Written by Family First staff writers*