Publication Details

Abstract

The author’s suggestion is to abandon Titmussian paradigm of biomedical donorship based on pure altruism and to replace it by a new ethical approach based on the reciprocity/solidarity principle. First, the relationship between altruism and reciprocity is examined. Secondly, the achievements of behavioral sciences and the theory of evolution are used in the analysis of the reciprocal altruism which is apparently the motive power of the evolution of human cooperation. Finally, the possibility of using this new conceptual framework for the objectives of biomedical donorship is examined as well.