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'''Organ donation''' is the act of donating one or more bodily organ to another so that it may be used in another's body to increase the risk of survival and/or health of the recipient. Such a transfer is called an '''organ transplant'''. Other donatations donations of a similar nature include blood and bone marrow donations.
The human body consists of many organs, and because of our fallen nature these organs are subject to corruption and decay. Diseased organs often lead to death in such afflicted persons. Advances in medical and surgical technology in the past century include the possibility of receiving a healthy organ from another human or even, in some cases, an animal. This is known as organ transplantation. Organ transplants are performed almost worldwide to extend the life of someone who has a diagnosed organ disease. The diseased organ is removed and in its place goes the donated organ. In some cases, multiple organs are transplanted. The organ donors includedonor might be one of the following:
# a live volunteer, typically a relative of the recipient;
# a brain dead person with a heart beat but is unable to breathe unassisted;
# someone whose organs were removed and preserved upon death until the need arises;
# an animal such as a pig, often for its heart valves.
A healthy human can donate a kidney, part of the liver, bone marrow, and blood without serious long term health risks. Surgeons can transplant many additional organs, such as the heart and lungs, intestines, pancreas, and corneas, if the donor is already dead. There is a small medical risk on the part of a live donor as it involves surgical removal of the organ or organs.
The lives of many adults and children, boys and girls, young and old, are saved through such a donation. A donor is often hailed in society as a hero; families often come together as life long friends, sharing the common bond of a donated organ. In this way, such a donation is an expression of love and concern and sacrifice for the well being of another child of God.
Historically, the only solid human part that was transplanted in ancient biblical times was the skin (Harakas, S., "Pastoral Guidelines", 2002). Blood transfusions and were also performed. As far as I can tell, neither blood transfusions nor skin transplants were performed in condemned by the Church during the Patristic period and this practice was never condemnedPeriod. Solid organ transplantation did not exist in However, transplants of solid organs such as kidneys, livers, and corneas have only existed since the Patristic Period20th century, so there and only since the 2nd half of the last century have transplants become more commonplace and safer for both recipient and donor. There are therefore no patristic writings which deal directly with this the issueof solid organ donations and organ transplants. Rev. Dr. However, Father Stanley Harakas and other modern Orthodox theologians have written several statements concerning organ donation, and many of these statements are available on the Internet (see External Links below). Fr. Harakas Father Stanley, in particular ("Pastoral Guidelines: Church Positions Regarding the Sanctity of Human Life," Internet article: [http://www.goarch.org/print/en/ourfaith/article8083.asp], 2002) tells us that we should always respect the body of the donor, whether alive or dead, and we should carefully consider such a decision to donate. The donation should certainly be a voluntary act of love. Blood and marrow donations should not be as great an issue as it involves no surgery and causes no obvious harm.
Fr. Harakas adds the following:
