Personhood as a Foundation of Morality in Africa: A Critical Analysis of Ethical Norm-Dead Donor Rule from an African Moral Perspectiveâ€

Our conceptual understanding of personhood in Africa guides of moral determination, as well our moral concept in African context affects our perception of personhood. Therefore, the concept of morality, personhood and health in African context should be understood as co-related either by cause or effect relationship with issues pertaining to each either springing from or leading to the other. Morality deals with individual character and the moral rules that govern and limit our conduct. It investigates questions of right and wrong, duty and obligations, and moral responsibility. With this perspective, it can be argued that the moral rightness or wrongness of any ethical norm in the African context should be judged not solely from an outside world view of an individual, but also taking consideration of the African conceptual perspective of morality and personhood because of their co-relationship. It is from this understanding I discuss in this paper an important ethical norm known as Dead Donor Rule, an ethical norm formulated as follows; ‘Organ Donors must clinically be dead before procurement or harvesting of organs can begin. Procurement of the organs must not cause or be the cause of the Donors death’. The problem I am addressing is, “Is it permissible from an African perspective of morality and personhood to directly bring about the disabling mutilation of a human being, even to delay the death of other person or persons? What criteria can we use to make a morally acceptable decision in such a case?†The hypothetical ethical rule or moral norm tested here is Dead Donor Rule. The ethical theory that I apply here is Kantian ethical theory or Kantian categorical imperative. This philosophical discourse is carried out through a mixture of armchair philosophical reflection and existing literature. The conclusion draws out emerging of two opposing groups one supporting and the other opposing the application of the Dead Donor Rule. The recommendation is further unbiased discussion on the objective criteria for organ donation/organ harvesting that also take into account an African concept of personhood and moral standards that conceive human life as sacred and transient beyond physical life.