Liat's+page+on+organ+donations+from+non-+Kosher+animals

1) **The Case:** A person is admitted to the hospital in need of a transplant but there is no match for him except for with an animal.

Q1. If the person gets a transplant from a non-kosher animal (a pig) is it as though they are not keeping kosher? Q2. Is there a difference if the transplant is in different places?(Liver, heart, etc.) Q3. Is it ethical to Modify the pigs and other animals so that the person will not reject the transplant?
 * Questions: **

A1.As long as the transplant is not causing pain to the animal and it will save the person from death, halacha says it is okay to get transplant from a non-kosher animal. A2. Since there is no problem getting a transplant from an animal, there should be no problem using the animals for any part needed (as long as it is possible and will not be a feudal effort). A3 If the modifying of the animal will cause them harm, they are not allowed to do it according to halacha. If it will not harm the animal, it is allowed.
 * Answers **

2) **Halachot that back up my answers:** A. There are many halachot that state that since animals are the creations of Hashem, they must be treated well and not intentionally caused pain: This is tsaar baalei chaiim. An example of this is "It is forbidden to sacrifice a newborn ox, sheep, or goat until it has had at least seven days of warmth and nourishment from its mother" (Lev. 22:27). B. In judaism, animals are allowed to be used for the purpose of humans. An example of this is Noah after the flood "Then noah built an altar to the Lord and, taking of every clean animal and of every clean bird, he offered burnt offerings to the altar"( Genesis 8:20).  C. One big mitzvah in the Torah is pikuach nefesh, saving a life, which applies because if the transplant can save a person's life, it should be done.  An example of this in my personal life is that when my Grandfather was undergoing surgeries on his heart, the doctors asked if he wanted to have a transplant of an artery from a pig. Instead, he asked for a cow transplant since a pig is not kosher.

3) **My Opinion** on this issue is that if someone needs a transplant, and the only way that they will find a donor is through a pig, then it is not a problem at all! As long as the animal is not harmed in the process, there is no problem. If there is another option instead of using the organs of he animals, I think the person should get the transplant from that other source. If the animal is the only source of an organ, then it should be taken from and if it wil be harmed in the process, it should be killed and then taken from.

In the case that a person can not get a transplant from an animal they must get a transplant from a person or else they will slowly die. In this circumstance there are more issues. If the organ is from a dead body, it is an issue of mutilating a body. This is disregarded if the tranplant will save a life: Pikuach Nefesh. In the case where the transplant may do more harm than good, people look to the quote in the torah that says, "Take heed to thyself and keep thy soul diligently.” Deuteronomy 4:9. Two organizations that apply to this topic are HODS- halachic organ donor society and Donate Life:  HODS' mission is to educate jews about the halacha for organ donation and why it is okay. They do this in order to save lives, both Jewish and not.  Donate Life educates people and tells them that organ donation is good and they especially encourage live organ donation.
 * Organ donation from humans: **

HODS: []

4) [] this is a good website that i found that gives Jewish views on the treatment of animals and it touches upon the idea of donations from animals.