Ethical And Religious Aspects Of Transplantology In Nigeria

Abstract

Transplantology is the movement of an organ from one body to another or from a donor site to another location on the persons own body to replace the patients damaged or absent organ. Although transplantation is well known and practiced in Nigeria some certain religious sects and ethnic groups are firmly dissociated from the idea and would rather lose the lives of their family than to allow the necessary transplant take place. Sadly,it is not associated with the status of the individual although it is a very expensive practice, even the well to do still frown as this practice till these modern times. Transplantation in Nigeria raises not many legal complains as legally the government of Nigeria really has no issue with transplantation and it is more of a religious issue. Some primitive local Nigerian theologists are of the opinion that transplantation not only saves the patients life but carries on traits from the donor such as poverty, ill luck and several other bad characters. Nigerias problem on transplantation is more religious as sects like Jehovah witness are completely against any forms of transfusion even as common as blood transfusion as they would rather death than live on any humans blood who is not Jehovah. Their birthing mothers die everyday in the labor rooms due to loss of blood and even more lives are lost in other severe kidney or heart problems that require transplantation.