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Ethics and the Future of Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation

  • Vascularized Composite Allografts (V Gorantla and R Barth, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

This paper seeks to identify and examine a number of ethical issues that persist 20 years after the field of vascularized composite allotransplantation was established. Reflection upon these issues will be essential if the field is to fulfill its promise.

Recent Findings

A number of scholars, including the authors, have been involved in efforts to identify ethical issues in VCA. Meetings held in the US and in Europe have focused on ethical concerns related to procurement, risk-benefit, consent, and program standards, among others.

Summary

Improving the burden and risk vs. benefit ratio, strengthening the consent process, employing a patient advocate, bringing greater clarity to donation policy, and improving data sharing are identified as major ethical concerns in vascularized composite allotransplantation.

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References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Healthcare Ethics, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15282, USA

    James Benedict & Gerard Magill

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  1. James Benedict
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  2. Gerard Magill
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Correspondence to James Benedict.

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Conflict of Interest

James Benedict and Gerard Magill declare no conflicts of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

Additional information

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Vascularized Composite Allografts

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Benedict, J., Magill, G. Ethics and the Future of Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation. Curr Transpl Rep 5, 334–338 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40472-018-0214-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40472-018-0214-9

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