Abstract

The current global shortage of organs has prompted aseries of proposals for improving organ retrievalrates. They include preferred recipient status forregistered organ donors, payment for organs, presumedconsent and required response. This paper examinesthe tenability of these proposals and points out theirshortcomings. Taking the Canadian situation as anexample, it argues further that the shortage isexacerbated by unethical and essentially illegalretrieval protocols that flout the law of informedconsent. It is suggested that before any redrafting oflaws and regulations is undertaken, these protocolsshould be revised