Skip to main content

Advertising Disclaimer »

Main menu

  • Journals
    • Pediatrics
    • Hospital Pediatrics
    • Pediatrics in Review
    • NeoReviews
    • AAP Grand Rounds
    • AAP News
  • Authors/Reviewers
    • Submit Manuscript
    • Author Guidelines
    • Reviewer Guidelines
    • Open Access
    • Editorial Policies
  • Content
    • Current Issue
    • Online First
    • Archive
    • Blogs
    • Topic/Program Collections
    • AAP Meeting Abstracts
  • Pediatric Collections
    • COVID-19
    • Racism and Its Effects on Pediatric Health
    • More Collections...
  • AAP Policy
  • Supplements
  • Multimedia
    • Video Abstracts
    • Pediatrics On Call Podcast
  • Subscribe
  • Alerts
  • Careers
  • Other Publications
    • American Academy of Pediatrics

User menu

  • Log in
  • My Cart

Search

  • Advanced search
American Academy of Pediatrics

AAP Gateway

Advanced Search

AAP Logo

  • Log in
  • My Cart
  • Journals
    • Pediatrics
    • Hospital Pediatrics
    • Pediatrics in Review
    • NeoReviews
    • AAP Grand Rounds
    • AAP News
  • Authors/Reviewers
    • Submit Manuscript
    • Author Guidelines
    • Reviewer Guidelines
    • Open Access
    • Editorial Policies
  • Content
    • Current Issue
    • Online First
    • Archive
    • Blogs
    • Topic/Program Collections
    • AAP Meeting Abstracts
  • Pediatric Collections
    • COVID-19
    • Racism and Its Effects on Pediatric Health
    • More Collections...
  • AAP Policy
  • Supplements
  • Multimedia
    • Video Abstracts
    • Pediatrics On Call Podcast
  • Subscribe
  • Alerts
  • Careers

Discover Pediatric Collections on COVID-19 and Racism and Its Effects on Pediatric Health

American Academy of Pediatrics

A statement of reaffirmation for this policy was published at

  • 119(2):405

A statement of retirement for this policy was published at

  • 124(2):845
AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS

Infants with Anencephaly as Organ Sources: Ethical Considerations

; Committee on Bioethics
Pediatrics June 1992, 89 (6) 1116-1119;
  • Article
  • Info & Metrics
  • Comments
Loading
Download PDF

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Pediatric organ transplantation offers an increasing number of seriously ill children the opportunity for a healthy life. However, there is currently a severe shortage of pediatric organs. Young children rarely die in circumstances that would make them medically acceptable sources of organs. Among the children younger than 2 years of age registered to receive transplants, an estimated 30% to 50% die before an organ becomes available.1 In April 1990, the United Network for Organ Sharing reported 320 children younger than 5 years of age waiting for kidney (99), liver (178), heart (34), or heart-lung (9) transplants. Although improved organization of the organ procurement system could partially ameliorate the problem, in all likelihood, pediatric organs will remain a scarce medical resource.2

Anencephaly is a congenital defect in which the cranium is absent and the cerebral cortex is virtually absent. However, vital organs, such as the heart and kidneys, are often normal. About 1000 to 2000 live anencephalic births occur annually in this country. Brain stem function enables many anencephalic infants to survive for hours or days and, in rare cases, for a few weeks.3

In recent years, some parents of anencephalic infants, as well as some transplant surgeons, medical ethicists, and state legislators, have proposed that these infants' organs be used for transplantation.4,5 Some parents have poignantly expressed their wish that some good might come of their loss. In their opinion, there is no compelling reason for failing to use an anencephalic infant's organs to give life and health to other children.

  • Copyright © 1992 by the American Academy of Pediatrics
PreviousNext
Back to top

Advertising Disclaimer »

In this issue

Pediatrics
Vol. 89, Issue 6
1 Jun 1992
  • Table of Contents
  • Index by author
PreviousNext
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on American Academy of Pediatrics.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Infants with Anencephaly as Organ Sources: Ethical Considerations
(Your Name) has sent you a message from American Academy of Pediatrics
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the American Academy of Pediatrics web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Request Permissions
Article Alerts
Log in
You will be redirected to aap.org to login or to create your account.
Or Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
Citation Tools
Infants with Anencephaly as Organ Sources: Ethical Considerations
Pediatrics Jun 1992, 89 (6) 1116-1119;

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Share
Infants with Anencephaly as Organ Sources: Ethical Considerations
Pediatrics Jun 1992, 89 (6) 1116-1119;
del.icio.us logo Digg logo Reddit logo Twitter logo CiteULike logo Facebook logo Google logo Mendeley logo
Download PDF
Insight Alerts
  • Table of Contents

Jump to section

  • Article
  • Info & Metrics
  • Comments

Related Articles

  • AAP Publications Retired or Reaffirmed, October 2006
  • Policy Statement—AAP Publications Retired and Reaffirmed
  • PubMed
  • Google Scholar

Cited By...

  • No citing articles found.
  • Google Scholar

More in this TOC Section

  • Disaster Planning for Schools
  • Exposure to Nontraditional Pets at Home and to Animals in Public Settings: Risks to Children
  • Medical Emergencies Occurring at School
Show more AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS

Similar Articles

  • Journal Info
  • Editorial Board
  • Editorial Policies
  • Overview
  • Licensing Information
  • Authors/Reviewers
  • Author Guidelines
  • Submit My Manuscript
  • Open Access
  • Reviewer Guidelines
  • Librarians
  • Institutional Subscriptions
  • Usage Stats
  • Support
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe
  • Resources
  • Media Kit
  • About
  • International Access
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement
  • FAQ
  • AAP.org
  • shopAAP
  • Follow American Academy of Pediatrics on Instagram
  • Visit American Academy of Pediatrics on Facebook
  • Follow American Academy of Pediatrics on Twitter
  • Follow American Academy of Pediatrics on Youtube
  • RSS
American Academy of Pediatrics

© 2021 American Academy of Pediatrics