Articles
Below you will find articles by rabbis, doctors and scholars about the halachic and medical issues surrounding brain-stem death and organ donation. Some articles are pro organ donation and some are con. We believe by showing all positions, we can allow the public to judge for themselves where they stand on these issues.
- Title: Principles in Cardiac Surgery
Author: Applebaum, Prof Azai
Publication: ASSIA 6, pg 15-19
Year: 1989~~
Download: HebrewHOD Comments:
- Title: The Halachic Moment of Death
Author: Kahana Shapiro, Rav Avraham
Publication: Moment of Death
Year: 2006
Download: HebrewHOD Comments:
The Schlesinger Institute - Title: Flesh Trade: Weighing the Repugnance Factor
Author: Dubner, Stephen and Steven Levitt
Publication: New York Times Magazine
Year: 09-Jul-06
Download: EnglishHOD Comments:
In this article, economists enter the discussion of methods to increase potential organs, particularly kidneys (more desirable from a living donor). Levitt and Dubner, authors of the well-known book “Freakonomics,” argue that the ‘repugnance factor’ many associate with monetary incentives for living donors would recede over time. Citing the dramatic change in social attitude toward life insurance and charging interest amidst the sobering facts that more than 3500 people die a year waiting for a kidney. The article closes with a description of the New England Program for Kidney Exchange (NEPKE), an innovative collaborative effort that pairs those in need of a kidney and their loved one (proven not to match the recipient) with other similar couples for simultaneous donation. This idea of incentive alignment eliminates the ‘repugnance factor’ and the need for monetary incentives, which are morally questionable and could put undue pressure on the indigent.~~ - Title: More Regarding Rabbi Moshe Feinstein’s Opinion
Author: Lewinstein, Dr. Israel
Publication: Moment of Death
Year: 2006
Download: HebrewHOD Comments:
The Schlesinger Institute - Title: The Medical Basis for Determining Brain Stem Death
Author: Sommer, Professor Haim
Publication: ASSIA 7, pg 129-136
Year: 1993~~
Download: HebrewHOD Comments:
- Title: Lethal Legislation
Author: Berman, Robert
Publication: Harvard Review Journal
Year: 2005
Download: English HebrewHOD Comments:
Harvard University - Title: Halachic Insights into Brain-Death
Author: Rabbi Yaakov Weiner
Publication: Ye Shall Surely Heal
Year: 1995
Download: EnglishHOD Comments:
Jerusalem Center for Research - Title: Right to Live, The
Author: Fishkoff, Sue
Publication: Jerusalem Post, The
Year: 1996 January 19~~
Download: EnglishHOD Comments:
- Title: Postmortem- Did Soroka Doctors Do the Right Thing?
Author: Seigel-Itzkovitch, Judy
Publication: Jerusalem Post, The
Year: 1993, Friday June 25~~
Download: EnglishHOD Comments:
- Title: Thoughts on the Jewish Perspective Regarding Organ Transplantation
Author: Mayer RNC EdD, Susan L
Publication: Journal of Transplant Coordination
Year: 1997
Download: EnglishHOD Comments:
Reprint Requests Phone 800-899-1712 (ext 532), email ivcReprint@aol.com~~ - Title: Personal Story – Chaya Gross
Author: Gross, Chaya
Publication: ASSIA Book, Vol. 7, pages 231-238
Year: 1993 (Incident occurred in 1986)~~
Download: HebrewHOD Comments:
- Title: Lack of Authority
Author: Shafran, R. Yigal
Publication: The 2nd International Conference on Medicine, Ethics and Halacha
Year: 1996~~
Download: EnglishHOD Comments:
- Title: Gosses
Author: Goldberg, Rabbi Zalman Nechemia
Publication: The First International Colloquium on Medicine, Ethics, & Halacha
Year: 1993
Download: HebrewHOD Comments:
Click here to see the summary of this article.~~ - Title: Jewish Perspectives on Death and Dying
Author: Rosner, Dr./Rabbi Fred
Publication: ASSIA Journal of Jewish Medical Ethics, Vol.II, No. 1
Year: 1991, January~~
Download: EnglishHOD Comments:
- Title: Opinion of the Netziv from Velozhin on Brain-stem Death
Author: Weiner, Rabbi Yaacov
Publication: ASSIA Book, Vol. 7, page 166
Year: 1993
Download: HebrewHOD Comments:
Click here to see the summary of this article.~~