The parents of a soldier who tragically lost his life in a battle with terrorists in the Gaza Strip made the difficult decision to donate his organs for transplantation to those in need. They specifically requested that their son’s organs only be given to Jewish patients in need of transplants, feeling that it would be a fitting tribute to their fallen hero.
However, it was later discovered that one of their son’s organs had been given to an Arab girl from the Jerusalem Arab quarter. The parents were understandably upset and felt that their wishes had been disregarded. They demanded answers from the Ministry of Health, who clarified that when it comes to selecting recipients for organ donations, only medical criteria are taken into consideration. The priority is ensuring that the patient who is most in need receives the organ, regardless of their background or ethnicity.
The Ministry of Health stressed that the healthcare system values human life above all else, without any discrimination between individuals. While the grieving parents may have had specific wishes for their son’s organs, the final decision is based solely on medical need. The parents were informed that their son’s organ had saved someone’s life and they were encouraged to take comfort in knowing that his sacrifice was not in vain.
