Check Here to Become an Organ Donor: A Comparative Analysis of Varying Religious Institutions Views on Organ Transplantation and the Role of the State

Nicholas H. Isles, The College of Wooster

Abstract

The purpose of this independent study thesis is to examine what type of affect, if any, certain religious and social institutions have on people’s decisions to donate their organs. The religious institutions focused on for the purpose of the study are Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam, Buddhism, and Judaism. Aside from a review of literature, original data collected through interviewing is used to support my arguments and make a conclusion regarding my research. All of this data has been analyzed comparatively and theoretically, which is a new type of scholarly contribution to this topic of research. None of the religions I’ve researched forbid or have substantial negative connotations geared towards individuals making judgments concerning organ donation. However, a systematic approach has been more or less created, with hopes of ultimately creating a larger donor registry within the United Kingdom, as a result of this, biopower is prevalent within the British donor system. The results of this study provide insight as to how the institution of both religion and state can factor into a system of organ donation.