Ethicists Criticize Controversial Donor Organ Harvesting Technique

A new technique for retrieving hearts from organ donors has sparked a debate over the definition of death and the potential for consciousness or pain during organ harvesting. The method involves restarting blood flow after a patient's heart has stopped, expanding the pool of potential donors. However, critics argue that this contradicts the traditional definition of death and raises ethical concerns. Surgeons also use metal clamps to limit blood flow to the brain, further complicating the issue. While the technique could significantly increase the number of available donor hearts, medical groups have opposed it, citing violations of the "dead donor rule." The debate highlights the ongoing challenges in defining death and the ethical considerations surrounding organ transplantation.