Emancipation of Minors for Donation in Living Donor Transplants: Psychologically Viable?

Authors

Keywords:

Transplantation, Medical Ethics, Living Donors, Minors, Personal Autonomy, Adolescent Psychology

Abstract

Brazilian law allows the emancipation of 16- and 17-year-olds , and this is an exceptonal soution for living organ donation to family members. However, emancipation is irrevocable and raises questions about the emotional maturity of these adolescents when faced with such a complex decision. This article discusses the psychological and ethical dilemmas involved, questioning whether legal adulthood truly reflects autonomy and emotional maturity.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

1. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Lei nº 9.434, de 4 de fevereiro de 1997. Dispõe sobre a remoção de órgãos, tecidos e partes do corpo humano para fins de transplante. Brasília (DF): Ministério da Saúde; 1997.

2. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Portaria n° 2.600 de 21 de outubro de 2009. Brasília (DF): Ministério da Saúde; 2009.

3. Conselho Federal de Medicina. Resolução CFM nº 2.217, de 27 de setembro de 2018. Brasília (DF): CFM; 2019.

4. Jusbrasil. Como funciona a emancipação de menor e quais os requisitos. Jusbrasil; 2021. [acesso em 17 Ago 2025] Disponível em: https://www.jusbrasil.com.br/artigos/como-funciona-a-emancipacao-de-menor-e-quais-os-requisitos/1305389800

5. Hochberg ZE, Konner M. Emerging adulthood, a pre-adult life-history stage. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne), 2020;10:918. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2019.00918

6. Steinberg L. A social neuroscience perspective on adolescent risk-taking. Dev Rev, 2008;28(1):78-106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dr.2007.08.002

7. Ross LF, Thistlethwaite Jr J . Minors as living solid-organ donors. JAMA, 2008;300(1):36-8. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2008-1525

8. Wright L, Daar AS. Ethical challenges in transplantation: living donation. Transplant Rev, 2016; 30(3): 144-50. https://doi.org/10.1177/152692480301300206

9. Spital A. Ethical issues in living organ donation: donor autonomy and beyond. Am J Kidney Dis, 2001; 38(1):189-95. https://doi.org/10.1053/ajkd.2001.25213

10. Thys K, Van Assche K, Nys H, Sterckx S, Borry P. Living organ donation by minors: an analysis of the regulations in European Union member states. Am J Transplant, 2016;16(12):3554-61. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajt.13868

11. Ashwin A, Cherukuri SD, Rammohan A. The psychology, legality, ethics and medical aspects of organ donation by minors. Transplant Rev (Orlando), 2024;38(2):100832. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trre.2024.100832

Published

2025-12-15

How to Cite

1.
Hojaij EM. Emancipation of Minors for Donation in Living Donor Transplants: Psychologically Viable?. bjt [Internet]. 2025 Dec. 15 [cited 2025 Dec. 16];28. Available from: https://bjt.emnuvens.com.br/revista/article/view/749

Issue

Section

Opinion