Organ Donation

[sails]

Scary part is that if our credit cards information can be quite easily skimmed and misused.

How much would it take to go through the list of potential donors, find the matching parts and then stage some mishap?

Far-fetched, maybe, but probable.

If euthanasia is not allowed as it could be abused, why this body parts donation cannot be?

For starters, there are so many recipients waiting, that the "mishap" a potential recipient organizes for a potential donor wouldn't guarantee they would get the organs. There could be several compatible recipients and someone higher in the priority order would be offered it first.

So, I can't see how that would make sense at all.

 

[Happy]

For starters, there are so many recipients waiting, that the "mishap" a potential recipient organizes for a potential donor wouldn't guarantee they would get the organs. There could be several compatible recipients and someone higher in the priority order would be offered it first.

So, I can't see how that would make sense at all.

I heard about queue jumping.

If our public servants can be corrupt, why somebody from other institutions couldn’t.
Couldn’t some corrupt conduct make movements on the waiting lists?


All I am saying it can be done, not that it is done.

 

[Julia]

Happy, Sails has very sensibly and succinctly answered your anxieties.

The scenario you propose is fanciful and makes no sense imo.

Do you just dislike the thought of your body being used in any way for the benefit of someone else?

 

[jbocker]

I tell the kids that when I go, they can sell my brain.
Will get top dollar $$$...
Near new hardly been used.

(and whats more I pickle it regularly, so should be well preserved)


On a serious note (from a young age) I struggle with concept of donating organs, and I dont know why, maybe something about needing them in an after-life. But the weird thing is I want to be cremated.
I know that I really need to think this through (unresolved issues)!

 

[cuttlefish]

One person I knew made pretty much a full recovery from a situation of being in a coma on life support with severe head injuries, and with the Dr's giving a very him a very poor prognosis and asking his mother to decide if she wanted to turn off the life support. It was a difficult decision for his mother to make to decide not to turn it off, and he was in a very bad way when he did come out of the coma a few days later, but after 18 months hard work, with fantastic support from his mother and family, he was pretty much back to his old self both physically and mentally. Probably a long shot situation and a big gamble by his mother, but it shows that outcomes aren't always predictable.

So I can understand Mr Burn's concerns about the possible risk of Dr's being trigger happy on wanting to turn off life support.

 

[Happy]

Happy, Sails has very sensibly and succinctly answered your anxieties.
...

What Sails says is theory, how it should be.

...
The scenario you propose is fanciful and makes no sense imo.
...

While ago I read somewhere:

> If you can think of something, it is quite possilbe somebody else is doing it already. <

Many things should not happen but they do happen.

...
Do you just dislike the thought of your body being used in any way for the benefit of someone else?

I like the idea, but I don't trust people!

I think that those who want to commit suicide could use medical assistance in exchange for body parts.

 

[Mofra]

Yep, I am a donor.

If you dont need them and you can save another life, why not

Ditto. My dad had a kidney transplant two years ago, forced me into action to sign up.

BTW it's not just saving a life, it may also include a massive increase to the quality of life for someone (ie saving sight or no more reliance on dialysis).

 

[nunthewiser]

Is happy and willing to donate my organ on a regular basis ........All willing participants please contact via the private message system.

Thankyou

 

[Julia]

I think that those who want to commit suicide could use medical assistance in exchange for body parts.

That's a terrific idea.

 

[sails]

One person I knew made pretty much a full recovery from a situation of being in a coma on life support with severe head injuries, and with the Dr's giving a very him a very poor prognosis and asking his mother to decide if she wanted to turn off the life support. It was a difficult decision for his mother to make to decide not to turn it off, and he was in a very bad way when he did come out of the coma a few days later, but after 18 months hard work, with fantastic support from his mother and family, he was pretty much back to his old self both physically and mentally. Probably a long shot situation and a big gamble by his mother, but it shows that outcomes aren't always predictable.

So I can understand Mr Burn's concerns about the possible risk of Dr's being trigger happy on wanting to turn off life support.

Actually, you give an excellent illustration, Cuttlefish. If this person was brain dead, there would not have been any sort of prognosis, no matter how poor. There was obviously some activity in the brain, albeit it gravely small - meaning his brain was probably almost, but not completely dead.

The fact that the family were given a choice, shows that there was an extremely small glimmer for recovery. And I agree. If that were one of my family, I would be saying to keep the machine on too.

It would appear that the diagnosis was coma with limited chance of recovery vs. being brain dead with no possibility of recovery. I understand there are several brain tests by the treating doctors to determine whether the patient is in a coma or brain dead.

There are two totally separate medical teams at work. The treating doctors do everything in their power to restore life (not death) to their patient. If they can do no more and several brain tests establish that there is no life left in the brain - it is only at that point that transplant is even discussed with the family. The transplant team is the last to be contacted. At least that's how I understood the process when Hubby worked with them for several years.

What a great outcome for this person, but being in a coma and being brain dead are not the same. Let's not confuse the two...

 

[Tink]

Ditto. My dad had a kidney transplant two years ago, forced me into action to sign up.

BTW it's not just saving a life, it may also include a massive increase to the quality of life for someone (ie saving sight or no more reliance on dialysis).

Yep Mofra - I think it becomes more reality when its someone close to you.

I have spoken to a few people that their children have been in need of an organ transplant.

 

[cuttlefish]

Actually, you give an excellent illustration, Cuttlefish. If this person was brain dead, there would not have been any sort of prognosis, no matter how poor. There was obviously some activity in the brain, albeit it gravely small - meaning his brain was probably almost, but not completely dead.

The fact that the family were given a choice, shows that there was an extremely small glimmer for recovery. And I agree. If that were one of my family, I would be saying to keep the machine on too.

It would appear that the diagnosis was coma with limited chance of recovery vs. being brain dead with no possibility of recovery. I understand there are several brain tests by the treating doctors to determine whether the patient is in a coma or brain dead.

There are two totally separate medical teams at work. The treating doctors do everything in their power to restore life (not death) to their patient. If they can do no more and several brain tests establish that there is no life left in the brain - it is only at that point that transplant is even discussed with the family. The transplant team is the last to be contacted. At least that's how I understood the process when Hubby worked with them for several years.

What a great outcome for this person, but being in a coma and being brain dead are not the same. Let's not confuse the two...

Cheers for the explanation Sails - it seems to make sense, though I don't have enough medical knowledge to comment.

In the situation I described, my impression at the time was that the mother was going against the norm, and against the implied viewpoints of the Dr's, by deciding to not to switch off the life support. I literally think she almost felt guilty that she wasn't willing to be 'brave' and face up to the reality that she'd lost her son and instead was just dragging out the inevitable.

I hate to sound cynical, but my experience with Dr's (esp surgeons) is that they can be quite sure of themselves at times (that was a subtle understatement ) and it can sometimes take a lot of conviction to go against their sentiments. It also wouldn't surprise me if the chinese walls between the treating team and the transplant team were very thin at times.

 

[sails]

Cheers for the explanation Sails - it seems to make sense, though I don't have enough medical knowledge to comment.

In the situation I described, my impression at the time was that the mother was going against the norm, and against the implied viewpoints of the Dr's, by deciding to not to switch off the life support. I literally think she almost felt guilty that she wasn't willing to be 'brave' and face up to the reality that she'd lost her son and instead was just dragging out the inevitable.

Hi Cuttlefish, I've had a fair bit of medical experience from my own nursing career (some time ago now - lol) and also coming from a family of medicos-mainly doctors. In my understanding, if the brain was really lifeless, they wouldn't have asked the family if they could switch off the machine - instead, they would have been told the brain had no further capacity to sustain life and that the machine would have to be turned off. Only if the brain has no further capacity to sustain life is there any discussion about transplant. And, not everyone is a suitable donor, so in some cases, donation would not even be raised with the grieving family.

I hate to sound cynical, but my experience with Dr's (esp surgeons) is that they can be quite sure of themselves at times (that was a subtle understatement ) and it can sometimes take a lot of conviction to go against their sentiments. It also wouldn't surprise me if the chinese walls between the treating team and the transplant team were very thin at times.

If there is, I have never seen it. The transplant doctors I had the privilege of meeting are dedicated to saving lives - not just selected lives. They have spoken of the sadness they feel when removing donor organs and would have to be the most emotionally difficult part of the process.

The transplant doctors often face long, difficult operations that take them well beyond normal duty hours. Transplant calls can come at any time - day or night. Not uncommon for social events to be ruined and it's such highly trained surgery that it's not that easy just to find someone else to take over.

As I have already explained in a previous post that transplants are not always successful - or may only give a recipient a little extra time. Organs are not always in good condition and they don't know if the organs are suitable for transplant until they operate. So, it doesn't make sense that a donor in a coma in another state would be murdered just because of a potential transplant that may or may not be successful.

With the massive improvement in technology, it's not just up to a doctor to pronounce death as it was a long time ago. They would have to have supporting medical records and technical test results to prove their diagnosis in something as serious as pronouncing death - and probably more so in the event of a potential donor. I have heard that there is a requirement for a second opinion from one of the treating doctors to confirm the decision.

 

[Julia]

Sails, many thanks for your detailed explanations. Everything you say makes total sense to me.

 

[Boyou]

Just thought I would share my experience with organ donation ...first hand ,as it were.

My wife,who suffered from a congenital heart defect always knew her life would be shortened by it. She elected to donate any organs that would be needed after she died .

In July of 1999 the worst happened..I was comforted by the knowledge that her eye tissue was used to give someone else sight.

You have no idea how that made me feel!

That's how she wanted it..bless her

 

[Krusty the Klown]

I tell the kids that when I go, they can sell my brain.
Will get top dollar $$$...
Near new hardly been used.

(and whats more I pickle it regularly, so should be well preserved)

We have a lot in common.....

On a serious note (from a young age) I struggle with concept of donating organs, and I dont know why, maybe something about needing them in an after-life.

I always felt the same way, but I changed states not long ago and I became an organ donor, and I don't know why, I just felt comfortable with the idea all of a sudden.

Not that my liver will be much good either.

Have started donating blood and plasma too.

Must be mellowing in my old age.

 

[Kalvin]

I think they turn it off AFTER they take the goodies, thats the creepy bit.

Look, that is complete crap. The legislation in Australia, and around the world for the most part (although who knows about China), is that you need to be BRAIN DEAD (i.e. with no chance of life ever again and dependent on being mechanically ventilated””with a pump”” to keep your circulation going) before anyone can take any organs. Your heart has to be pumping (otherwise the organs all rot) but it could theoretically do this if they cut your head off. I hope this clarifies the point.

 

[cuttlefish]

If there is, I have never seen it. The transplant doctors I had the privilege of meeting are dedicated to saving lives - not just selected lives. They have spoken of the sadness they feel when removing donor organs and would have to be the most emotionally difficult part of the process.

The transplant doctors often face long, difficult operations that take them well beyond normal duty hours. Transplant calls can come at any time - day or night. Not uncommon for social events to be ruined and it's such highly trained surgery that it's not that easy just to find someone else to take over.

As I have already explained in a previous post that transplants are not always successful - or may only give a recipient a little extra time. Organs are not always in good condition and they don't know if the organs are suitable for transplant until they operate. So, it doesn't make sense that a donor in a coma in another state would be murdered just because of a potential transplant that may or may not be successful.

With the massive improvement in technology, it's not just up to a doctor to pronounce death as it was a long time ago. They would have to have supporting medical records and technical test results to prove their diagnosis in something as serious as pronouncing death - and probably more so in the event of a potential donor. I have heard that there is a requirement for a second opinion from one of the treating doctors to confirm the decision.

Sails thanks for the insight of your own experience - I'll take it on board!

 

[DocK]

I'm a donor and find it difficult to understand why anybody wouldn't be. I take the attitude that it's no good to me once I'm gone, and could potentially be useful to someone else. Personally I hope all my organs are past their use-by date by the time I shuffle off, but you never know.

My spouse on the other hand isn't a donor, and cannot bear the thought of being sliced up. If it was cheap to be cyrogenically (sp?) frozen after death, then that would definitely his choice. He also refuses to discuss his preferences for funeral as in burial or cremation. Hopefully I'll go first so won't have to guess what he would have preferred - as I'm quite happy to tell him exactly what I want.

Just an example of people having different attitudes. I have no problems what happens to my body once my brain is dead, but spouse finds it very difficult to even consider that he's not immortal

 

[sails]

Just thought I would share my experience with organ donation ...first hand ,as it were.

My wife,who suffered from a congenital heart defect always knew her life would be shortened by it. She elected to donate any organs that would be needed after she died .

In July of 1999 the worst happened..I was comforted by the knowledge that her eye tissue was used to give someone else sight.

You have no idea how that made me feel!

That's how she wanted it..bless her

Boyou, it was sad to read of your loss, but thank you for sharing your touching experience. I believe there are grieving donor families who have found comfort, as you have, that their loved one continues to give life to others.

Look, that is complete crap. The legislation in Australia, and around the world for the most part (although who knows about China), is that you need to be BRAIN DEAD (i.e. with no chance of life ever again and dependent on being mechanically ventilated””with a pump”” to keep your circulation going) before anyone can take any organs. Your heart has to be pumping (otherwise the organs all rot) but it could theoretically do this if they cut your head off. I hope this clarifies the point.

Well said, Kalvin!

Sails thanks for the insight of your own experience - I'll take it on board!

No worries, Cuttlefish...