The ability to transplant human cells, tissues and organs to overcome disease and disability has opened both promising and perplexing issues for governments, healthcare professionals and the public.  Issues which arise here include those surrounding the donation and collection of organs and other tissue, stem cell research, the determination of death and whether donated tissues and organs should be paid for or receive other remuneration.

For additional information see:

• The Address of His Holiness Benedict XVI to the Participants in the Symposium on the Theme: "Stem Cells: What Future for Therapy?" which was organised by the Pontifical Academy for Life.
• For a useful discussion of the legal and ethical issues which pertain to the Australian context see the National Health and Medical Research Council’s: Making a Decision About Living Organ and Tissue Donation
• Protecting Life and the Gift of Organ Donation
• And for information about organ donation after death see: http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/guidelines/publications/e75