We would like to congratulate Bjørn Hol on the publication of his article in the Monash Bioethics Review.
In the article, Hol explores the ethical arguments for and against a system in which organs could be taken from deceased individuals without explicit consent. He discusses both utilitarian reasons in favour of conscription and the counterarguments grounded in the supposed interests and rights of the deceased and their families. Drawing on Epicurean philosophy and contemporary scholarship, Hol argues bravely but also controversially that dead bodies lack interests and rights, and that the needs of patients on organ waiting lists should take precedence.
This publication forms part of Hol’s ongoing Doctor Philosophiae work and represents an important contribution to the broader discussion of how societies might address the persistent shortage of transplantable organs. We congratulate Hol on this achievement and look forward to following the further development of his research.