“It should be notCare office at CHRISed that adult stem TUS Spohn Hospital cell research would Corpus Christi-Shorefall into this catline said many people egory of ethically struggle with the idea legitimate,” Smith of giving up any body said parts, believing that The use of tissue the body must remain or organs from an intact. People do not infant may be perlike thinking about it. mitted after death “In the beatific vih a s b e e n d e te rsion, we will be changed mined and with the to how God wants us. informed consent We’ll be angelic,” Faof the parents or ther Martinez said. guardians, but under In his 1991 address Registered nurses Isaac Garcia, Beverly Howell and Silvia Galvan pin green ribno circumstances to participants of the bon on Susie Duncan, whose mother was an organ donor and had her picture on will the Church perFirst International the Wall of Heroes. The green ribbon has come to symbolize awareness regarding mit the use of huCongress of the Sociorgan and tissue donation. man tissue obtained ety for Organ Sharing, by direct abortions, Blessed John Paul II Paul Iverson, CHRISTUS Spohn Health Systems even for research said, “For Christians, and therapeutic procedures. That is why embryonic stem Jesus’ offering of himself is the essential point of reference cell research is not morally permissible, Smith said. and inspiration of the love underlying the willingness to Under Catholic teaching, the organs should not be donate an organ, which is a manifestation of generous soliremoved until it is medically determined the patient has darity, all the more eloquent in a society which has become died. In order to prevent any conflict of interest, the excessively utilitarian and less sensitive to unselfish giving.” physician who determines death should not be a member Once people hear about turning a tragedy into life, they of the transplant team. get a different perspective. The spiritual care team at the The Church permits the transplantation of organs from hospital does not get involved in the decision of a family living donors when such a donation does not sacrifice or to donate organs unless they are asked, Father Martinez seriously impair any essential bodily function and the ansaid, but “once they take the lead, we journey with them.” ticipated benefit to the recipient is proportionate to the The Church encourages the gift of life, he said. harm done to the donor, Smith said. “Catholic beliefs about donation are rooted in a deep One such example would be a person donating a kidney respect for the sanctity of the human life—all human life, to another individual. “The donor has two kidneys and the from conception to natural death. As one approaches the essential body function would continue with the proporend of life, an individual may clearly demonstrate respect tionate benefit for the recipient of the kidney outweighing of human life by choosing to donate organs or tissues for the potential harm to the donor,” Smith said. transplant or research,” Grigsby said. A spokesman for Southwest Transplant Alliance, the The “Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic local organ donation agency, said that following the initial Health Care Services” of the United States Conference wall’s dedication in El Paso, every family in that hospital of Catholic Bishops directs Catholic health care instituin a position to donate a loved one’s organs did so. tions to encourage and provide the means for those who The photos on the “Wall of Heroes” comfort families wish to donate their organs and bodily tissue, for ethically in crisis, and also help them choose organ donation for legitimate purposes, so that they may be used for donation their loved ones, increasing donations and increasing the and research after death. number of organs available for transplant. The most common example would be patients who “Organ recipients have such hope and anticipation,” have been declared medically dead that had registered as Father Martinez said. a donor, or their family or surrogate decision-maker gives At times, however, they feel guilty that someone had permission for organ or tissue transplantation or ethical to die for them to receive an organ. “They shouldn’t feel research, said Brian Smith, Vice President of Mission Inguilty. It’s unnecessary. The donor family is usually happy tegration for CHRISTUS Spohn Health System. www.SouthTexasCatholic.com
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