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Case/Article Review 8
You have two minutes to read the enclosed article, and you will subsequently be asked a range of questions by the interviewer. You may wish to make notes, however please note you will not be allowed to refer to your notes or the article during the discussion.
‘A new opt-out system for organ donation will be in place by 2020 in England, if Parliament approves "Max's Law". Under the plans detailed by ministers, adults will be presumed to be organ donors unless they have specifically recorded their decision not to be.
The government said it would save up to 700 lives each year.
In the UK in 2017, 411 people died before the right donor was found, and more than 5,000 people are currently on the waiting list in England. A similar opt-out system has been in place in Wales since 2015. Scotland plans to introduce a similar scheme and Northern Ireland has also expressed an interest. "Max's Law" is named after Max Johnson, from Cheshire, who was saved by a heart transplant. His search for a suitable heart was followed in a series of front-page stories in the Daily Mirror, as the newspaper campaigned for the change in the law.
Last year, Theresa May wrote to the 10-year-old, saying she chose the name after she heard his "inspirational story". The legislation was subsequently introduced last year, and will return to the House of Commons in the autumn to be voted on. If passed, it is expected to come into effect in England in spring 2020 - because the timetable for its introduction will allow for a year of "transition" to the new law. The government said it would also encourage people to discuss, with their families, the issue of whether they would want to be a donor in the event of their death.'
(Adapted from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-45056780)
Outline the main issues raised.
‘A new opt-out system for organ donation will be in place by 2020 in England, if Parliament approves "Max's Law". Under the plans detailed by ministers, adults will be presumed to be organ donors unless they have specifically recorded their decision not to be.
The government said it would save up to 700 lives each year.
In the UK in 2017, 411 people died before the right donor was found, and more than 5,000 people are currently on the waiting list in England. A similar opt-out system has been in place in Wales since 2015. Scotland plans to introduce a similar scheme and Northern Ireland has also expressed an interest. "Max's Law" is named after Max Johnson, from Cheshire, who was saved by a heart transplant. His search for a suitable heart was followed in a series of front-page stories in the Daily Mirror, as the newspaper campaigned for the change in the law.
Last year, Theresa May wrote to the 10-year-old, saying she chose the name after she heard his "inspirational story". The legislation was subsequently introduced last year, and will return to the House of Commons in the autumn to be voted on. If passed, it is expected to come into effect in England in spring 2020 - because the timetable for its introduction will allow for a year of "transition" to the new law. The government said it would also encourage people to discuss, with their families, the issue of whether they would want to be a donor in the event of their death.'
(Adapted from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-45056780)
Outline the main issues raised.
Average Candidate Response
This article discusses whether we should move to an opt-out organ donation system whereby people would automatically be organ donors unless they opted out. It could be argued that this infringes on public autonomy as well as raising other ethical concerns.
This article discusses whether we should move to an opt-out organ donation system whereby people would automatically be organ donors unless they opted out. It could be argued that this infringes on public autonomy as well as raising other ethical concerns.
Excellent Candidate Response
There are numerous ethical issues that have been brought to light in this article; these include the current state of organ donation in the UK is discussed, as well as the importance of media in defining changes to healthcare.
The article describes plans to introduce an ‘opt-out’ system, in which the public would automatically be donors, but could choose to not donate if they wished. On one hand, this system could extend the life expectancy of hundreds of patients suffering from chronic conditions, and provide them with a future they may otherwise not have had access to for example 411 people died last year due to a deficit of donors. On the other hand, it must be considered that many individuals may not have the capacity to make such a decision. For example, those unaware or ill-informed of the new system may unknowingly be donors, a fact that could infringe on their autonomy.
In addition to this particular issue, the article explores the impact of media on public opinion of medical cases; the catalyst for this proposed change was a campaign launched by a newspaper on behalf of a child saved by a heart transplant. Therefore, it could be argued that without this effort this legislation may not have been put into place, one could say that the media plays a role in influencing the pathway taken by modern medicine.
There are numerous ethical issues that have been brought to light in this article; these include the current state of organ donation in the UK is discussed, as well as the importance of media in defining changes to healthcare.
The article describes plans to introduce an ‘opt-out’ system, in which the public would automatically be donors, but could choose to not donate if they wished. On one hand, this system could extend the life expectancy of hundreds of patients suffering from chronic conditions, and provide them with a future they may otherwise not have had access to for example 411 people died last year due to a deficit of donors. On the other hand, it must be considered that many individuals may not have the capacity to make such a decision. For example, those unaware or ill-informed of the new system may unknowingly be donors, a fact that could infringe on their autonomy.
In addition to this particular issue, the article explores the impact of media on public opinion of medical cases; the catalyst for this proposed change was a campaign launched by a newspaper on behalf of a child saved by a heart transplant. Therefore, it could be argued that without this effort this legislation may not have been put into place, one could say that the media plays a role in influencing the pathway taken by modern medicine.