Medical Issues: Can Organs Be Taken from Brain-Dead Patients for Transplantation?

Practical Laws of Islam as per the teachings of Imam Khamenei

Medical Issues: Can Organs Be Taken from Brain-Dead Patients for Transplantation?

English:

Question #1284:

Some patients suffer from irreversible brain damage which results in the disappearance of all kinds of neurological activities associated with deep coma plus inability to respire and response to all motor sensory stimulations. In such cases it is not probable at all to restore these activities and the heart could only work temporarily by itself with the aid of a respirator. This condition, which is called in medicine ‘brain death’ does not continue more than a few hours /days. That is on the one hand. On the other hand there are other patients whose lives can only be saved by the transplantation of organs to them being taken from those who suffer from brain death. Is the use of organs taken from such patients for this purpose permissible?

Answer #1284:

If the removal of the organs from the patient described in the question would precipitate his death, it is not permissible. Otherwise, if the removal of such organs is made with his prior permission, or the use of the removed organ is the only way to save a respectful life, there is no objection to it.

-Imam Khamenei, Practical Laws of Islam, Importance and Conditions of Medical Issues