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Book review: Strange harvest - organ transplants, denatured bodies and the transformed self

Book review: Strange harvest - organ transplants, denatured bodies and the transformed self
Book review: Strange harvest - organ transplants, denatured bodies and the transformed self
The book comprises four extended essays as chapters. The first addresses controversies and tensions that lie at the heart of the scarcity of organs, the deaths of organ donors, and the ‘value’ placed upon their bodies. Donor families appear to perceive organs as cherished fragments of the person they knew that are life giving sources. Alternatively the dead body is perceived as a repository for coveted, reusable parts of immense therapeutic value to the health system and waiting recipients. The second chapter debates the difficult issue of appropriately memorializing organ donors, and the potential controversies endured by organ recipients. The public face the recipient is expected to sustain is one of gratitude and good health. Whilst the private face may eclipse any advantages of the transplant through a far harsher reality impacted by unemployment, medication cost and disrupted family relationships. Yet the expectation is that recipients remain compliant, should another lifesaving transplant ever become necessary. The third chapter discusses the communication between donor and recipient families and provides insights into the problematic pitfalls and joys of these interesting relationships. The fourth chapter discusses the future of organ transfer in the context of continuing organ shortage. Sharp highlights concerning issues such as the expanding and relaxing of donor criteria, the potential for cross species transplantation, and the issues that this elicits for humans in terms of the slaughter of animals and the fear of acquiring animal characteristics.
1386-7423
240
Sque, M.R.
cf51892a-93cb-4167-965c-647970c9896e
Sque, M.R.
cf51892a-93cb-4167-965c-647970c9896e

Sque, M.R. (2008) Book review: Strange harvest - organ transplants, denatured bodies and the transformed self. Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy, 11 (2), 240. (doi:10.1007/s11019-008-9133-3).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The book comprises four extended essays as chapters. The first addresses controversies and tensions that lie at the heart of the scarcity of organs, the deaths of organ donors, and the ‘value’ placed upon their bodies. Donor families appear to perceive organs as cherished fragments of the person they knew that are life giving sources. Alternatively the dead body is perceived as a repository for coveted, reusable parts of immense therapeutic value to the health system and waiting recipients. The second chapter debates the difficult issue of appropriately memorializing organ donors, and the potential controversies endured by organ recipients. The public face the recipient is expected to sustain is one of gratitude and good health. Whilst the private face may eclipse any advantages of the transplant through a far harsher reality impacted by unemployment, medication cost and disrupted family relationships. Yet the expectation is that recipients remain compliant, should another lifesaving transplant ever become necessary. The third chapter discusses the communication between donor and recipient families and provides insights into the problematic pitfalls and joys of these interesting relationships. The fourth chapter discusses the future of organ transfer in the context of continuing organ shortage. Sharp highlights concerning issues such as the expanding and relaxing of donor criteria, the potential for cross species transplantation, and the issues that this elicits for humans in terms of the slaughter of animals and the fear of acquiring animal characteristics.

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Published date: June 2008

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Local EPrints ID: 54628
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/54628
ISSN: 1386-7423
PURE UUID: 8b2aa780-2ccf-4925-b5a8-1679887180b5

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Date deposited: 05 Aug 2008
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 10:49

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Author: M.R. Sque

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