Transplantation is a medically successful and cost-effective way to treat people whose organs have failed--but not enough organs are available to meet demand. T. M. Wilkinson explores the major ethical problems raised by policies for acquiring organs. Key topics include the rights of the dead, the role of the family, and the sale of organs.

1: INTRODUCTION
2: TRANSPLANTATION AND RIGHTS OVER OUR BODIES
3: THE POSSIBILITY OF POSTHUMOUS HARM
4: THE MORAL CLAIMS OF THE DEAD
5: THE DEAD AND THEIR FAMILIES
6: CONSENT AND UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE WISHES OF THE DEAD
7: CONSCRIPTION
8: LIVING DONOR ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION
9: IMPARTIALITY, ACQUISITION, AND ALLOCATION
10: ORGANS AND MONEY
Bibliography
Index

T. M. Wilkinson , University of Auckland

T. M. Wilkinson is an Associate Professor in Political Studies at the University of Auckland. He is a political philosopher with a longstanding interest and publishing record in transplantation ethics. He has published on a wide range of topics besides transplantation, such as distributive justice, freedom, public health ethics, and research ethics. He was chair of the New Zealand government's Bioethics Council and is currently a member of its National Ethics Advisory Committee.

`But Wilkinson's book is a good example of work in applied ethics which takes seriously the need to apply philosophical thinking to closely observed context, being well-informed of relevant scientific and medical facts, laws, policies, and just as importantly, giving extremely useful details on how practice often diverges from official policy. There should be more philosophical work like this.' Mind

`Throughout the book, Wilkinson argues strongly for an ethics based on personal sovereignty. However, his clear analysis and criticism of competing ethical arguments gives the reader an excellent overview of the issues, whether or not one agrees with all of Wilkinson's conclusions. ' J. B. Hagen, CHOICE

`A robust and highly useful volume, working through many of the issues which get raised ... but seldom are offered the necessary time and attention ... This is what Wilkinson does with skill, critical engagement and coherency, bringing together different strands of thought and perspectives ... The result is an freeiring and intellectually rigorous text ... For me it was one of those books which, once I had finished reading it, I wanted to start reading it again in order to improve my understanding of the book's material and imbibe its many salient points ... I see this book as being an excellent resource not only for those studying in the field of applied ethics and bioethics but also those coming at the issues from the legal perspective, policymakers, clinicians, and lobby groups interested in transplantation. ' BioCentre