How do u fell about a alcoholic receiving a liver transplant??

BeachBayNurse · Dec 20, 2007

Situations such as transplants force us to make decisions that only God should be allowed to. However, I have seen personally many people given a second chance at life because of a transplant. I believe everybody deserves a second chance. No one can honestly say that they have always treated their body as a sacred temple. As healthcare providers with insight that the public doesn't have, we are often the worst offenders! However, inorder for a person to recieve the amazing gift of a transplant, there should be some research into the person's current habits so this gift is not wasted.

MiaKeaRN · Dec 20, 2007

We had a family friend who was given a liver transplant....was a known alcoholic who abstained only because he was in and out of the hospital frequently. To make a long, sad story short......he received his new liver and then proceeded to go back to drinking, and died a year later. They wasted a liver on him......I guess he lied his way through the screening, because he had no intention of ever giving up the alcohol.

Neats, BSN · Dec 21, 2007

Wow what a question!

As a former prison health care manager who has seen many medical issues I can say they should go through the criteria list just like anyone else and if they meet the program goals then place their name on the list. I see this as no different than me going to McDonalds and buying a big mac knowing some day it would give me clogged arteries, a MI then maybe I would be on the heart transplant list...should I be on that list with the education I have knowing I eat big macs and what fast food causes as far as health risks? I don't care right now I am young and big macs taste good it is my stress relief from nursing school to have a big mac.

Instead of the US focusing on medical care after the fact we should really place our efforts and monies at prevention I think in the long run it would save tax payers more money.

RheatherN, ASN, RN, EMT-P · Dec 24, 2007

all i am going to say is that

PPL CAN CHANGE

-H-

LydiaNN · Dec 24, 2007

all i am going to say is that
PPL CAN CHANGE
-H-

I didn't see anyone who said that people can't change. Just that some people don't. The problem with giving them a liver is that it means someone else- maybe someone who doesn't have habits that will make the liver go to waste- isn't going to get it. Just saying that people can change doesn't begin to address the complex issues surrounding transplantation.