심장호흡사 기준에 의한 장기구득에 관한 비판적 고찰: 피츠버그 프로토콜에 의한 첫 번째 사례 분석

While organ transplantation is accepted medical practice, it is hampered by the shortage of available donor organs. In an attempt to resolve the imbalance between the supply of, and demand for, organs for transplantation, a non-heart beating donor (NHBD) program was started by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in 1992. While this program has had desirable patient outcomes, concerns have been raised that it may jeopardize professional and public confidence in the field. This article examines the clinical, ethical, and legal issues in organ transplantation with a focus on the first case of the NHBD program at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. The article also considers what implications this case might have for organ transplantation in Korea. It is argued that the public, law enforcement agencies, and the media in Korea should assist the medical community in making explicit regulations that are medically, ethically, and legally defensible.