Presumed Consent Policy

Running head: HEALTHCARE ETHICS 1
HEALTHCARE ETHICS
Name of Student
Institutional Affiliation

HEALTHCARE ETHICS 2
PRESUMED CONSENT POLICY
Presumed consent has been widely used in many countries to increase the number of
organ donations. Through the presumed consent, the consent for being a donor is assumed if a
deceased person had not expressed any wish not to be a donor. The policy of presumed consent
will be an effective way of increasing organ donations.
As per the autonomy principle, individuals have the sole right over their bodies.
According to the autonomy principle, an individual should not be coerced into making any
decisions. It requires them to do so willingly. This, therefore, removes the decision making
power on both the person family members as well as the healthcare provider (Frey, 2013). The
policy of presumed consent requires individuals to have the final say on the decisions made
regardless of the impact of these decisions. It, therefore, falls in line with the requirements of the
autonomy ethical principle.
Act utilitarianism ethical theory, on the other hand, uses outcomes to determine
right from wrong. It holds that the choice that produces the best results for the greatest number.
The presumed consent policy is likely to produce the best results by benefiting a huge number of
people dependent on organ donations for survival (Pfäfflin, Kobert & Reiter-Theil, 2009). It,
therefore, conforms to the tenets of the utilitarianism ethical theory.
The presumed consent policy roots for the fairness in medical decisions and the
distribution of scarce resources. According to the policy, all individuals provided with an
opportunity to consent or not to consent to donate before their death. It also makes it mandatory
for healthcare providers to adhere to legal provisions touching on individual wishes (Gallin &
Ognibene, 2012). By assuming the consent of donations for all persons, fair distribution of scarce
vital organs is guaranteed. Also, it removes the ability of the family members to decide on behalf

HEALTHCARE ETHICS 3
of the deceased. It is therefore in line with the requirements of the fairness principle of health
care ethics
The policy makes it mandatory for healthcare providers to consider individual choices
and avoid any harm to patients. It, therefore, falls within the provisions of rule utilitarianism an
ethical principle which requires health care providers to adhere to the rule that promotes the
common good all situations at whatever cost (Pfäfflin, Kobert & Reiter-Theil,2009). By
removing the decision making power on family members and healthcare providers, the policy
prioritizes actions as per the wishes of the deceased.
In conclusion, the presumed consent policy is an effectual provision for the enhancement
of fairness in the distribution of scarce resources, avoidance of harm on patients, prioritization of
personal decision making at all times. I therefore strongly agree with it.