Solid-Organ Transplantation in HIV-Infected Patients

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Penn collection
Center for Bioethics Papers
Degree type
Discipline
Subject
Funder
Grant number
License
Copyright date
Distributor
Related resources
Author
Halpern, Scott D
Ubel, Peter A
Contributor
Abstract

Before the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy in the mid-1990s, transplantation centers were understandably reluctant to provide scarce solid organs for patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, because treated patients can now expect to live substantially longer than before, many will have end-stage organ disease long before they have life-threatening conditions related to HIV infection. It is therefore time for the transplantation community to readdress the safety, efficacy, and propriety of transplanting scarce organs in HIV-positive patients who need them. In this article, we provide ethical arguments for viewing transplantation in patients with HIV infection as analogous to transplantation in patients with other chronic illnesses. Accordingly, transplantation in HIV-positive patients should be initiated at major centers and should not be considered experimental. In addition, reimbursement for such procedures should be similar to that for transplantation in other patients, unless evidence accumulates that HIV-infected transplant recipients fare poorly.

Advisor
Date Range for Data Collection (Start Date)
Date Range for Data Collection (End Date)
Digital Object Identifier
Series name and number
Publication date
2002-07-25
Journal title
Volume number
Issue number
Publisher
Publisher DOI
Journal Issue
Comments
Copyright 2002, Massachusetts Medical Society. Reprinted in New England Journal of Medicine, Volume 347, Issue 4, July 2002, pages 284-287. Publisher URL: http://hdl.library.upenn.edu/1017/5430
Recommended citation
Collection