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

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).

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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