Should Jehovah's Witnesses Be Living Kidney Donors?

AbstractTransplant programs can be reluctant to accept Jehovah's Witnesses as living kidney donors, because Jehovah's Witnesses refuse blood transfusions based on their religious beliefs. This article explores the ethical issues surrounding Jehovah's Witnesses as living kidney donors. I argue that, in light of the low risk of kidney donation for healthy patients and recent advances in the safety of bloodless surgery, healthy Jehovah's Witnesses meet the standard used to evaluate other prospective organ donors. Therefore, as a matter of equality, patient autonomy, and respect for altruism, Jehovah's Witnesses should not be automatically excluded from becoming kidney donors.