Transplantation of organs: a European perspective.

The development of transplantation technology increasingly places before society a multitude of diverse, complex ethical and legal problems. The subject is the more complex because of the various divergent interests involved. There are the interests of the donor of organs, who has a right to protection of his legal position, and those of the patient in need of an often lifesaving organ. There are also the interests of the donor's relatives, after his death, and those of the transplantation surgeons. The international dimension of transplantation technology makes the picture even more complicated. Though this article is devoted to the European situation, the problems are similar all over the world.... These matters are solved primarily within the national context: answers are given in accordance with the national socio-cultural background. The overall European (legislative) picture is one of diversity.... This paper will, however, not present a comparative review of legislation in European countries. Instead, it concentrates on the European dimension of the various problems surrounding transplantation technology. First, some specific problems common to the majority of European countries will be presented. Following that, the European dimension will be reflected upon from the perspective of enlarging the potential donor pool.