From One Body to Another: Sociological Issues in Transplantation of Human Organs

Human organ transplantation has several ethical, cultural and legal dimension. It provides a fertile ground for exploring a vast number of sociological questions such as, how are life and death defined? What is the symbolic significance of a body part? How is the giving and receiving of human organs perceived by the society? Should body parts be donated, given as a gift, or sold like a commodity? How does the state respond to these questions? This book examines these issue across diverse societies and shows how social, ethical, cultural and legal considerations influence and regulate the giving and receiving of body parts.