Ethical Debate: Organ Transplants

[Q.]

3rdShiftGuy had a great ethical question in the 17y/o organ transplant tragedy that somewhat went unanswered. I think it would be a great thing to debate and discuss, but to avoid confusion and hurt feelings, made a new thread.

Here was 3rdShiftGuy's question:

The question is, should persons come from other countries, legally and with funds, get organ donations from our health care system?

What are your thoughts on this?

[Q.]

Originally posted by Stargazer

http://www.nicholasgreen.org/

Actually, I was going to post something about this earlier too, because it does speak to the culture in some countries regarding organ donation. I've never been clear on why the Italians did not, for the most part, believe in or choose to participate in organ donation prior to Nicholas Green--but it makes me think that in countries with similar cultures, a decent public service campaign could go a long way towards changing that collective attitude, and persuade people to lobby their goverments for a system similar to UNOS or Eurotransplant.

Thanks for the link, Stargazer. Interesting story. Your point about a public service campaign is well taken too. Hey, I got an idear. Let's relocate to Italy and start such a campaign. Wouldn't it be fun?

[Stargazer]

Right. We should start by renting a villa in Tuscany and stocking up on lots of wine for the months of brainstorming ahead, yes? :chuckle

[Q.]

Definitely. See, we're halfway there already!

[kids]

Originally posted by dana d

...I die, I'm an organ donor. My grandson needs a heart transplant, he matches mine, But he is not next on the list. Another child who has been waiting, but not more acute, matches, should that child receive my heart. Who should get my heart? My grandson may die before another match is found. Does my family have a say into where my organs go?...

I think that families can do *some* specifing when it comes to a family member receiving an organ.

For some reason I think something along these lines occured in a mid to south Atlantic State 2-5 years ago...car accident involving a college girl (or a HS girl that had been visiting colleges) and an organ going to a grandparent maybe????.

Anyone else recall something like this or did I dream it up?

[fab4fan]

You didn't dream it up...I remeber that situation, too...just can't remeber all the details, though.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Qualifications for organ transplantation

http://www.optn.org/about/donation/livingDonation.asp

http://www.unos.org/Resources/FactSheets.asp

PA Chapter 158. Vital Organ Transplantation Services

http://www.health.state.pa.us/QA/chp158.htm

[Furball]

Thanks for the info Stargazer. Whew....maybe I don't have alzheimers....yet.

[bestblondRN]

Originally posted by hoolahan

Best Blone, if that is true, that is a SIN!!! To think that people are in those hospitals just waiting for a donor. I admitted a pt to home heath just yesterday who was in the hosp NINE MONTHS getting IV milrinone until he got his transplant. He shared time with many many others who were on that unit waiting for hearts. And please, the typing and xmatching is done long before the actual harvesting of organs, I mean hours prior, isn't it? That was the way it was done when I last participated in a harvest in an ICU.

That just makes me so angry!!!

Sad, but true, unfortunately........The other thing I should mention is that we were expecting a couple of teams from the OPO, and they ended up only sending one team. It was all they could do to handle liver, pancreas and kidneys. I would think that an OPO would mobilize every support they have when they have a total solid organ donor, but then again, maybe there are things I'm not aware of. The coordinator had lists of potential recipients, but I never got a good look at them to see what they said or how the lists are put together--I was circulating the case and was busy with other stuff.

[kaycee]

Originally posted by kids-r-fun

I think that families can do *some* specifing when it comes to a family member receiving an organ.

For some reason I think something along these lines occured in a mid to south Atlantic State 2-5 years ago...car accident involving a college girl (or a HS girl that had been visiting colleges) and an organ going to a grandparent maybe????.

Anyone else recall something like this or did I dream it up?

Yes, this is true the girls heart went to her father.

[semstr]

Why are you all so obsessed with nationality and donororgans?

I know that with Eurotransplant, nobody gives a f..k about a) where the organs come from and b) who is (are) recieving them.

and yes to question, when an US citizens dies here (happens quite a lot btw) they can take his organs too. BUT, I also happen to know at least one case, where an US-citizen was put on the donorlist of Eurotransplant and got his kidney, after "only" 6 months.

[Q.]

Renee,

Are non European citizens placed on the same list with European citizens?

[semstr]

Yes, there is only one list.