Moniyah Blair Professor Seipel Communicating Moral Issues April 2nd, 2024 Who Deserves a Liver? Alcoholism is one of the most popular groups of people who often need liver transplants. This is a controversial topic because many people believe alcoholics cause their liver to fail and do not deserve a new one. In the article, “Should Alcoholics Compete Equally for Liver Transplantation” Alvin H. Moss and Mark Siegler discuss the idea of liver transplants to alcoholics. One main argument that Moss and Seigler mention is fairness. In this essay, I will summarize the fairness argument and assess the reasons for Moss and Seigler. First, I will summarize the fairness argument. Moss and Seigler think that if a patient develops alcohol-related end-stage…show more content… With the supply of livers being so scarce, Moss and Seigler feel it is only right for people with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) to receive the transplant first. People with ESLD are at no fault with how their liver became necrotic over time, but people with ARESLD are at fault. With that being said, ESLD patients should have priority. This can be disheartening to alcoholics, but it is only fair that people who are at no fault receive those scarce livers. Since Moss and Seigler know that livers are scarce, choices for who gets the liver must be made and they can be founded on these four principles of fairness. 1. What is the difference between a. and a. To each, an equal share of treatment. 2. What is the difference between a'smart' and a'smart'? For each, similar treatment for similar cases. 3. What is the difference between a'smart' and a'smart'? To each, treatment according to personal…show more content… The only thing that is different between alcoholism and these other conditions is the scarcity of the liver. I agree that alcoholics must be careful because livers may not be available to them, but we must consider mental health and predispositions. Just like obesity and atherosclerosis may be a genetic predisposition or a trait learned in childhood, alcoholism is the same. Many children see their family members drink and when they get older all they know is alcohol use. Or a young child could have issues like depression or anxiety and when they get older, they become a user. Many people would object to this claim because they feel if a person is an alcoholic, they should get help. While I agree with this objection, treatment is not affordable for everyone. Many of them are poor and uninsured and if no one is offering to pay for their treatment, how can we say they do not deserve to get a liver transplant? If a person feels that an alcoholic should not receive a liver because they cause the issues on their own, then they should feel the same way about anyone who causes their own
