Transplants and Psychological Survival in the Treatment of Kidney Disease

Abstract

In brief, the problems of transplants focus on who gets it, who gives it, and who decides. The preconceptions that impair decision-making and contribute to the ethical controversies will be described here. Because of the writer's recent experience with renal disease (Cutter, 1970), and the longer history of kidney transplants, the content will be restricted to the kidney. However, the intent is to provide a perspective on all current medical efforts to achieve surcease or survival.