Solidaridad y altruismo en la donación de órganos: un enfoque Ibero-Latinoamericano

Abstract

Consent, which embodies the principle of respect for individual autonomy, is widely regarded as the cornerstone of organ donation ethics. When consent is coupled with gratuitousness, we arrive at altruism as the primary ethical justification for organ procurement. Here I propose an alternative ethical justification: solidarity. While altruism represents a voluntary individual disposition without normative force, solidarity constitutes a collective duty that may be imposed upon individuals against their will. I argue that altruism aligns more closely with the cultures of Anglo-Saxon and Northern/Central European countries, whereas solidarity better corresponds to the cultures of Ibero-Latin American (and other) nations.