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Home , Donation (canon law), Organ donation, Organ transplantation

LEARNING MORE ABOUT & TISSUE DONATION

Organ donation is reserved for those with serious illnesses who may, otherwise, die if a transplant does not occur. Organ donors can be alive or deceased.

For living donors, the following must be considered: · The recipient's need must be serious with no other treatment options. · The benefit to the recipient must be proportionate to the risk taken by the Organ donor. · There must be free, informed from the donor, without coercion. Donation: For deceased donors, the following must be considered: · Vital organs that occur singly in the body may only be removed after . · The donor's consent must be given well in A Catholic advance, freely and in writing or in discussion with loved ones. · There must be moral certainty that the donor is dead. Perspective The act of love, which is expressed with the You shall love your gift of one's own vital organs, is a genuine testament of charity that knows how to look neighbour as yourself beyond death so that always wins. The (Mark 12:31) www.ccbi-utoronto.ca recipient should be aware of the value of By donating your organs so that others may have this gesture that one receives, of a gift that life, you are in keeping with the Catholic 's goes beyond the therapeutic benefit. What teaching on respect for life and the dignity of each "Transplants are a great step forward in science's they receive is a testament of love, and it person. The Compendium of the Catechism service of man, and not a few people today owe should give rise to a response equally of the tells us: their to an organ transplant. Increasingly, generous, and in this way grows the culture the technique of transplants has proven to be a of gift and gratitude. “The transplant of organs is morally acceptable valid means of attaining the primary goal of all with the consent of the donor and without - the service of human life…There is a excessive risks to him or her. Before allowing the Benedict XVI, November 2008 noble act of after death, one must need to instill in people's , especially in the (From his Address to Participants at a Conference hearts of the young, a genuine and deep entitled, "A Gift for Life. Considerations on Organ verify that the donor is truly dead.” Donation.") appreciation of the need for brotherly love, a love (Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic that can find expression in the decision to become Church Sec. 2296, Compendium Sec. 476) an organ donor."

- Pope John Paul II to attendees at the International Congress on Transplants in Rome – August 2000

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It's critical to share your decision with your family, family, your with decision your share to critical It's desire to have a Catholic Chaplain visit visit Chaplain Catholic a have to desire

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wishes to become an organ and tissue donor by by donor tissue and organ an become to wishes hand of a stranger. Johnny's special gift saved the the saved gift special Johnny's stranger. a of hand admitted to , state that you are are you that state hospital, to admitted

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to include your name on the list of those those of list the on name your include to

completely separate from the transplant team that that team transplant the from separate completely In the summer of 2007, 28 year old Johnny Lo Lo Johnny old year 28 2007, of summer the In

receive the Sacrament of the Sick and and Sick the of Sacrament the receive

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, it should be noted that the medical team team medical the that noted be should it hospitals, THE GIFT OF LIFE: JOHNNY LO JOHNNY LIFE: OF GIFT THE

or some other serious medical medical serious other some or surgery to steps outlined in this brochure taken by Catholic Catholic by taken brochure this in outlined steps to

(John 12:24) (John or become aware that you are in need of of need in are you that aware become or much fruit.” fruit.” much concern is for the patient in their care. In addition addition In care. their in patient the for is concern

it remains just a single grain, but if it dies, it bears it dies, it if but grain, single a just remains it As soon as you or a loved one become ill ill become one loved a or you as soon As recipient? recipient? First and foremost, doctors’ primary primary doctors’ foremost, and First

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and more transplant patients are living enhanced, enhanced, living are patients transplant more and

you still need to register your consent consent your register to need still you

Outcomes continue to improve each year so more more so year each improve to continue Outcomes

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only save lives, they recapture productive lives. lives. productive recapture they lives, save only

Do transplants really work? really transplants Do Transplants not not Transplants

HealthyOntario.com .

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, corneas, valves, bone and skin. and bone valves, heart corneas, stomach,

giftoflife.on.ca , at available Form

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ABOUT ORGAN & TISSUE DONATION TISSUE & ORGAN ABOUT

PERSONAL CHECKLIST PERSONAL

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS QUESTIONS ASKED FREQUENTLY THE GIFT OF LIFE – – LIFE OF GIFT THE ABOUT THIS BROCHURE... A CATHOLIC PERSPECTIVE: How does the Catholic view of death relate to the medical view of “end of life”? ADDITIONAL REFLECTIONS ON Catholics understand death to be the separation To assist Catholics in reflecting on the issue of ORGAN DONATION of body and soul, which cannot be observed organ and tissue donation, the Canadian Catholic directly. Medical science determines that death Institute (CCBI) has created this From a Catholic perspective, are there has occurred based on signs that an individual's guidelines about extraordinary or resource. ability to carry out the activities of life in an excessive treatment? integrated way is irreversibly lost. Usually this A Christian view of death sees it as the Since 2002, the CCBI has been working to is based on detecting a person's permanent loss culmination of earthly life and a transition to promote and protect the dignity of each person of a heartbeat and ability to breathe, but the next life. It is legitimate for Catholic through every stage of life. Each year, the increasingly with the use of and patients to forgo any medical intervention that institute offers workshops, conducts research and other life-sustaining treatments, doctors rely on delays death from a fatal medical condition if it provides helpful resources for Catholics across the neurological signs. country. imposes significant and excessive burdens on oneself, one’s family or one’s community. These In , , which has been defined could be regarded as “extraordinary” life- Visit the CCBI online at: www.ccbi-utoronto.ca as the irreversible loss of the capacity for sustaining medical interventions. The issue of consciousness combined with the irreversible donating organs after the refusal or withdrawal Dr. Moira McQueen, Director, loss of all brainstem functions including the of excessively burdensome interventions should Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute capacity to breathe is generally accepted by the be thought through and discussed by 81 St. Mary Street medical community and the public as equivalent individuals with their family while they are , Ontario M5S 1J4 to the traditional circulatory criterion of death. still capable. Such end-of-life planning is part 416.926.2335 However there is no law relating to determining of responsible stewardship of one’s life. 416.926.2336 death in Canada and there are no uniform [email protected] clinical guidelines for detecting brain death.

How can I stay informed when making important end of life decisions? Catholics who are considering organ donation should know that the Church has no position on the particular medical criteria that Only my readiness to encounter should be used for determining when death has my neighbour and to show him occurred. The Church relies on the expertise love makes me sensitive to God and judgment of scientists, clinicians, and ethicists for such questions. Catholics should, as well. Only if I serve my however, be informed about the ways in which neighbour can my eyes be opened death is determined in Canada and the distinct ethical issues for that to what God does for me and how may arise with each method. much he loves me. What can I do to ensure responsible care is - From Deus Caritas Est – taken with and for those I love? Pope Benedict XVI (2005) When death is determined using the circulatory criterion, enough time should be allowed after a person's heart has stopped beating to be morally certain that this loss is irreversible.

How do opinions differ on the definition Are there other areas for concern? of “death” within the Catholic Catholic ethicists and clinicians generally agree community? that persons in whom there are signs only of the Most Catholic ethicists and clinicians accept loss of higher (cortical) brain , such as brain death as a valid way of determining those in a “post-coma unresponsive state” or when death has occurred. Pope John Paul II “persistent vegetative state”, are not dead. in 2000 stated that “the complete and Catholics should oppose proposals to increase the irreversible cessation of all brain activity (in number of possible organ donors by introducing the cerebrum, cerebellum and brain stem), if the concept of partial or higher brain death as the rigorously applied, does not seem to conflict definition of death. with the essential elements of anthropology” (Address to the 18th International Conference of Organ Transplant Specialists, August 2000).

Members of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences DETERMINING DEATH: and the Pontifical Academy of Life who met to CALLED HOME TO GOD consider this question in 2006 issued a statement affirming this view (“Why the Catholics have embraced organ donation for years Concept of Brain Death Is Valid as a and have recognized that death can be determined, Signs of Death, Definition of Death” in using reasonable available means, by the complete Pontifical Academy of Sciences, 2006). and irreversible cessation of all brain activity – so called “brain death”. When brain activity stops However there are some Catholics, including a completely and irreversibly, the functions necessary few members of the Pontifical Academy for to sustain life have also ceased and the death of the Life, who hold either that total brain death is person may be medically declared. an inadequate sign that a person is dead or that the current tests for determining brain More recently, some hospitals have started to Finis Vitae: Is Brain death are unreliable” ( implement organ donation after so called “cardiac Death Still Life?, 2007) death”, i.e., once the donor's heart has stopped beating. What steps can I take to ensure decisions aren't made in haste? Organ donation is a peculiar form of Catholic hospitals continue to be actively involved Families should be provided with adequate witness to charity. In a period like ours, in identifying the most prudent criteria for the information, opportunities to ask questions, often marked by various forms of identification of irreversibility after the heart has assistance and time to make an informed selfishness, it is ever more urgent to stopped beating, however, the discussion continues decision about organ donation, and with understand how the logic of free giving as to what amount of time is appropriate to support for grieving. is vital to a correct conception of life. establish that death has occurred before retrieving Indeed, a responsibility of love and organs. charity exist that commits one to make of their own life a gift to others, if one Many hospitals use 5 minutes as the benchmark, truly wishes to fulfil oneself. As the and others 2 minutes. With these concerns in mind, Lord Jesus has taught us, only whoever it is important to note that, in Ontario, several gives his own life can save it (cf. Lk 9: Catholic hospitals prudently use a benchmark of 10 24).” minutes once the heart has stopped beating before - Pope Benedict XVI, organ donation occurs. This protocol is followed to November 2008 Address at a Conference be morally certain that all of the integrated entitled, “A Gift for Life. Considerations functions necessary to sustain life have irreversibly on Organ Donation” ceased.