Organ donation (9)

In the previous two blogs we covered in which cases amputation from a live human is allowed, and from whom the amputation can take place.

The organs that can be taken have been explained two blogs ago – so the question we are left with is who can the recipient of the organ be? The earlier discussion with organ donation from dead donors, is not entirely relevant here – although similar tones are clear from the discussion.

Ayatullah Muhsini makes it clear that if the person is Muslim, then there is no problem. However, if the person is not Muslim, is it allowed for the Mu’min to give him his organ? There is a difference of opinion.

On the one hand, are those who do not distinguish between Muslims and non-Muslims when it comes to donating organs such as Ayatullah Fadlallah who has no issue in this regard.

From Ayatullah Muhsini’s point of view, it is more complicated. In general he does not consider such a donation to a non-Muslim as generally permissible. However, if the non-Muslim was to give something and the Muslim is in strong need for the money, then donating an organ whilst alive is considered allowed for all. Note, how here he allows the donation in exigent circumstances, but does not allow it in any situation when the dead individual is a Muslim.

Regardless, Ayatullah Muhsini considers it impermissible to donate to a Nasibi or someone who wants to destroy the religion or weaken the Muslim believers.

Now obviously transplantation can be for a range of reasons e.g. to save someone from harm, to remove severe embarrassment but it is also allowed for the sole purpose of taking money. However, it must be made clear that this does not mean that someone who is unable to pay his debts, has to sell his/her organs to repay the debt. This does not come under the normal understanding of being able to repay a debt.

In the next two blogs, I will summarise the views of the various maraji’ on the topic.