Ethical Issues of Organ Transplantation in Chinese Community: Perspectives of Health Professionals, Legal Professionals, and Religious Experts in Taiwan and Mainland China

Abstract

Objective This study aimed to compare the perspectives of leading ethical issues related to organ transplantation as perceived by health professionals (HP), legal professionals (LP), and religious experts (RE) from Taiwan (TW) and Mainland China (MC). Materials and Methods A purposive sample including TW's organ transplant health professionals (OTHP), LP, and RE and MC's HP was obtained in this qualitative research. Data were analyzed by content analysis. Results A total of 127 subjects participated in this project (n = 119 in TW, 8 in MC). They were HP (n = 92), RE (n = 25 TW), and LP (n = 10 TW). Seven ethical dilemmas were reported: (1) difficulties in touching the hearts of the public (HP 100%, LP 100%, RE 100%); (2) challenges in helping donors and their families (HP 96%, RE 80%, LP 50%); (3) competence and availability of HP (HP 93%, RE 72%, LP 50%); (4) questionable social farewell (HP 92%, RE 20%, LP 100%); (5) questionable legitimacy of prisoners' motivations (LP 90%, RE 64%, HP 60%); (6) worry about public discrimination (LP 90%, HP 50%, RE 20%); and (7) challenges to families in taking care of the recipients (HP 87%, LP 70%, RE 52%). Conclusions To provide holistic care, HP need to invite RE to provide spiritual support for the donors of cadaveric organs, recipients, and their families. Reliable LP can help them to complete the sophisticated legal procedures. With help from this triangulated collaborative team, the value of organ transplantation will be appreciated by the public.