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AME & AME ZION (African MethodistEpiscopal)
Organ and tissue donation is viewed as an act of neighborly love and charity by these denominations. They encourage all members to support donation as a way of helping others.
AMISH
Approved if there is a definite indication that the health of the recipient would improve, butreluctant if the outcome is questionable.
ASSEMBLY OF GOD
The Church has no official policy in regard to organ and tissue donation. The decision todonate is left up to the individual. Donation is highly supported by the denomination.
BAPTIST
Donation is supported as an act of charity and the church leaves the decision to donate up to the individual.
BRETHREN
The Church of the Brethren's Annual Conference in 1993 wrote a resolution on organand tissue donation in support and encouragement of donation.
BUDDHISM
No specific law or doctrine governs organ donation. It is a matter of individual conscience; everyone is free to make his/her own choice.
CATHOLICISM (also see ROMAN CATHOLIC)
Transplants are acceptable to the Vatican and donation is encouraged as an act of charity.
CHRISTIAN CHURCH (DISCIPLES OF CHRIST)
The Christian Church does not prohibit organ and tissue donation. They feel that it is apersonal decision to be made in conjunction withfamily and medical personnel.
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
No position, leaving it to the individual.
EPISCOPAL
The Episcopal Church passed a resolution in1982 that recognizes the life-giving benefits of organ, blood, and tissue donation.
GREEK ORTHODOX
There is no opposition to organ and tissue donation.The use of the donated organs andtissues has to improve human life.Transplantation and research can be done aslong as they will lead to progress in the treatment and prevention of disease.
GYPSIES (ROMANY)
Gypsies are a people of different ethnic groups without a formalized religion. They sharecommon folk beliefs and tend to be opposed toorgan and tissue donation. Traditional beliefcontends that for one year after death, the soulretraces its steps. Thus, the body must remainintact because the soul maintains its physical shape.
HINDUISM
No religious law prohibits Hindus from donating their organs and tissues. Hindu mythology doescontain traditions of use of body parts to benefitothers, and there are no religious constraints toliving or cadaveric organ donation.
ISLAM
The Islamic Code of Medical Ethics (1981)strongly approves organ donation thus: "If theliving are able to donate, then the dead are even more so; no harm will afflict the cadaver if theheart, kidneys, eyes or arteries are taken to beput to good use in a living person. This is indeed charity."
JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES
Blood transfusion is banned by Jehovah'sWitnesses. However, provided that organs andtissues are completely drained of blood beforetransplantation, they do not oppose donating or receiving organs. Organ donation is notencouraged but is a matter of individual conscience.
JUDAISM
The human body is sanctified by Judaism.Saving a human life is considered to be superior to maintaining the sanctity of the human body.The donor must be brain dead, and a directtransplantation is preferred. The saving of a lifetakes precedence over nearly every Jewish ritualand civil law. Contrary to common myth, allJewish denominations encourage organ and tissue donation. The mitzvah of saving a life,Pikuah Nefesh, is considered one of Judaism'shighest values. No religious barriers to organ donation exist if the organs are donated inaccordance with Jewish religious regulations.When saving a human life is possible, the life must be saved. Jewish tradition looks with greatfavor on those who facilitate life-saving organ and tissue donation.
LUTHERAN
Organ donation for transplants is approvedbecause it contributes to the well-being ofhumanity, as long as organs are not sold. The use of a signed donor card is part of the recommended arrangements to be done by Lutherans.
MENNONITE
Mennonites have no formal position ondonation, but are not opposed to it.They believethe decision to donate is up to the individual and/or their family.
MORMON
Organ donation is a matter of individualconscience for Mormons. Guidance and inspirationhas to come from the Lord; advantages anddisadvantages are to be individually reviewed.Whatever the individual's decision is, it shouldengender a feeling of peace and comfort.
PENTECOSTAL
Pentecostals believe that the decision to donateshould be left up to the individual.
PRESBYTERIAN
Presbyterians encourage and support donation. The Presbyterian religion respects individualconscience and the right to make decisionsregarding one's own body.
PROTESTANT
Protestants envisage man as being an integralpart of the human community as a whole. Theyfavor organ donation; medical advances such astransplantation are considered to be positive ifit is beneficial to man, if it relieves pain without altering his dignity.
QUAKER
Donation of organs for transplantation is an individual decision.
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST
Donation and transplantation are stronglyencouraged by Seventh-Day Adventists.
ROMAN CATHOLIC
Transplantation and organ donation areethically and morally acceptable to theVatican. Pope John Paul II, in an address to be articipants of the Society for OrganSharing, said "With the advent of organtransplantation, which began with blood transfusion, man has found a way to give of himself, of his blood and of his body, so that others may continue to live." The Holy Father also added: "The medical act of transplantation makes possible the donor's act of self-giving, that sincere gift of self which expresses our constitutive calling to love and communion."
SHINTO
In Shinto, the dead body is considered to be impure and dangerous, and thus quite powerful."In folk belief context, injuring a dead body is a serious crime. . ." according to E. Narnihira in hisarticle, "Shinto Concept Concerning the DeadHuman Body." "To this day it is difficult to obtain consent from bereaved families for organdonation or dissection for medical educationor pathological anatomy . . . the Japanese regards them all in the sense of injuring adead body."
SOCIETY OF FRIENDS (QUAKERS)
Organ and tissue donation is believed to be an individual decision. The Society of Friendsdoes not have an official position on donation.
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST
Organ and tissue donation is widely supportedby Unitarian Universalists. They view it as an actof love and selfless giving.
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
The United Church of Christ supports andencourages donation.
UNITED METHODIST
Methodists are encouraged toreceive or to donate theirorgans and tissuesthat will restoreany of thesenses orthat will enhance health.
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