Religious Views
Christianity
The Christian faith is based on the revelation of
God in the life of Jesus Christ. Throughout his life, Jesus taught people to
love one another and he proved his love for the world upon the cross. In keeping
with this, Christians consider organ donation as a genuine act of love and a way
of following Jesus' example. This act of love becomes part of a faith journey
that is motivated by compassion to help someone else and demonstrates a sense of
social responsibility.
Sacrifice and helping others are consistent themes
in Christianity, which teaches the principle of seeking for others what you hope
others would do for you. Enabling life to be lived as fully as possible is
consistent with the teaching of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. The Lord
demonstrated with his own life how, even in sorrow, love enables us to embrace
the needs of others. We can choose to donate our organs and tissues to
save and improve the lives of many people. The decision to donate at the
end of life is the beginning of healing for many others.
"...freely you have received, freely give"
Matthew, chapter 10:8
Judaism
Contrary to common myth, all Jewish denominations
encourage organ and tissue donation. The mitzvah of saving a life, pikuach
nefesh, is considered one of Judaism's highest values. In
principle, Judaism supports and encourages organ donation in order to save
lives. Judaism insists that no organ may be removed from a donor until
death. Judaism requires that honor and respect are due to the dead (kavod
hamet). After donation, the avoidance of unnecessary further interference
with the body, and the need for immediate interment, are again of prime concern.
"One who saves a single life - it is as if he
has saved an entire world."
Pirke D'Rav Eliezer, chapter 48
Islam
In Islam, the Muslim Law (Shariah) Council issued a
fatwa (religious opinion) on organ donation. The council resolved that it
supports organ transplantation as a means of alleviating pain or saving life on
the basis of the rules of the Shariah. Muslims may carry donor cards. The
next of kin of a dead person, in the absence of a card or an expressed wish to
donate their organs, may give permission to obtain organs from the body to save
other people's lives.
The fatwa is based on the Islamic principle of
al-darura tubih al-mahzurat (necessities overrule prohibition). Normally,
violating the human body, whether living or dead, is forbidden in Islam - but
the Shariah believes this can be overruled when saving another person's life,
other scholars disagree. Individual Muslims should make a decision
according to their understanding of the Shariah or seek advice from their local
Iman or scholar. The Muslim Law Council fatwa draws on one of the basic
aims of the Muslim faith: saving life.
"Whosoever saves the life of one person it
would be as if he saved the life of all mankind."
Holy Qur'an, chapter 5:32
Sikhism
Sikh philosophy and teachings place great emphasis
on the importance of giving and putting others before oneself. It also
stresses the importance of performing noble deeds and there are many examples of
selfless giving and sacrifice in Sikh teachings by the ten Gurus and other
Sikhs. Sikhs believe life after death is a continuous cycle of rebirth but
the physical body is not needed in this cycle - a person's soul is their real
essence.
"The dead sustain their bond with the living
through virtuous deed."
Guru Nanak, Guru Granth Sahib, p 143
Buddhism
There are no injunctions in Buddhism for or against
organ donation. The death process of an individual is viewed as a very important
time that should be treated with the greatest care and respect. In some
traditions, the moment of death is defined according to criteria which differ
from those of modern Western medicine, and there are different views as to the
acceptability of organ transplantation. The needs and wishes of the dying person
must be compromised by the wish to save a life. Each decision will depend on
individual circumstances.
Central to Buddhism is a wish to relieve suffering
and there may be circumstances where organ donation may be seen as an act of
generosity. Where it is truly the wish of the dying person, it would be seen in
that light.
When he discovered a monk sick and uncared for, the
Buddah said to the other monks, "Whoever would care for me, let him care
for those who are sick".
Mahavagga VIII.26.1-8 Kucchivikara-vatthu
The Monk with Dysentery. Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
Hinduism
There are many references that support the concept
of organ donation in Hindu scriptures. Daan is the original word in
Sanskrit for donation meaning selfless giving. In the list of the ten Niyamas
(virtuous acts) Daan comes third. Life after death is a strong belief of
Hindus and is an ongoing process of rebirth. The law of karma decides which way
the soul will go in the next life. Organ donation is an integral
part of the Hindu way of life, as guided by the Vedas. That which
sustains is accepted and promoted as Dharma (righteous living). Scientific
treatises form an important part of the Vedas - Sage Charake deals with
internal medicine while Sage Sushruta includes features of organ and limb
transplants.
"...it is said that the soul is
invincible...knowing this you should not grieve for the body."
Bhagavad Gita, chapter 2:25
(Information provided by
UKTransplant.org.uk)