Organ donation

May organs be given, in life or after death?

Yes, both. In life, “Organ transplants are in conformity with the moral law if the physical and psychological dangers and risks incurred by the donor are proportionate to the good sought for the recipient.” After death, “Donation of organs after death is a noble and meritorious act and is to be encouraged as a manifestation of generous solidarity.” CCC 2296 John Paul II called it “a particularly praiseworthy example” of the everyday heroism that builds a culture of life, “performed in an ethically acceptable manner”. Evangelium Vitae 86

Two conditions hold in every case. The donor, or those who legitimately speak for him, must have given “explicit consent”. And it is “morally inadmissible directly to bring about the disabling mutilation or death of a human being, even in order to delay the death of other persons”. CCC 2296 For a living donor the test is proportion between his risk and the recipient’s good; no one may be killed or disabled for another’s sake.

That second condition answers the fear that a donor will be let go early. John Paul II counted among the hidden forms of euthanasia the case where, “in order to increase the availability of organs for transplants, organs are removed without respecting objective and adequate criteria which verify the death of the donor”. Evangelium Vitae 15 Organs are taken after death only once death has been verified by such criteria; the encyclical does not set out the medical criteria itself.

2296

Organ transplants are in conformity with the moral law if the physical and psychological dangers and risks incurred by the donor are proportionate to the good sought for the recipient. Donation of organs after death is a noble and meritorious act and is to be encouraged as a manifestation of generous solidarity. It is not morally acceptable if the donor or those who legitimately speak for him have not given their explicit consent. It is furthermore morally inadmissible directly to bring about the disabling mutilation or death of a human being, even in order to delay the death of other persons.

2301

Autopsies can be morally permitted for legal inquests or scientific research. the free gift of organs after death is legitimate and can be meritorious. The Church permits cremation, provided that it does not demonstrate a denial of faith in the resurrection of the body. Cf. CIC, can. 1176 # 3.

Evangelium Vitae Mar 25, 1995

From the Catechism

From the Magisterium