November 29, 2011
This is a tough question but I would like peoples opinions; Who should get organ transplants?
Category: Organ Transplants and Donation
Who is it that get priority. Is it the people who first went on that list? Maybe it’s the people who are the sickest or those that have a better chance of surviving? Should a much-needed heart go to a person who was a heavy smoker or a liver to someone who has suffered from alcoholism?
What are your thoughts?
4 Responses to “This is a tough question but I would like peoples opinions; Who should get organ transplants?”
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November 29th, 2011 at 11:53 pm
in my opinion transplants should go to people who are the most ill and likely to survive. not sure about people who drink / smoke themselves to death.
November 30th, 2011 at 12:45 am
Well, it should go to the youngest first, and then to the non-avoidable illnesses (people that didn’t get the problem from drinking, smoking etc.) Then to percentage of survival, then to the state of survival ( it shouldn’t go faster to people who would be in a coma afterward, or a wheelchair.) I know that’s a horribly apathetic way to look at it, but that rates people in the use they would be to society as a whole.
November 30th, 2011 at 1:44 am
People are referred to a Transplant Center by their physicians.
They are then evaluated for placement on the transplant list.
This means lots of testing and seeing many different doctors,
including a psychiatrist.
A person is not placed on the transplant list according to
who they are or if they know someone. They are placed on
the transplant list according to the testing done and how long
the doctors believe the patient can live without having a
transplant done. They are given a score (MELD/PELD)score.
This usually runs from 6 to 40. Those who are closest to a
six are the healthiest and won’t need a transplant for quite
sometimes in the future and , if they do get better, may even
go off the list to return later on (if needed). As they go up
the scale closer to the 40, they are sicker…have more
symptoms and side effects…and are more in need of the
transplant. When they reach 40…then they may have
a very short time to live and a donor should be found
for them right away.
There are many things that are taken into consideration
about a transplant: if the patient is able to survive the
long hours of surgery the transplant takes. All their
medical problems (not just needing the transplant itself).
If they have a living donor (they still have to be listed on
the list as the donor can back out at any time.
If they are addicted to alcohol or drugs…then most
transplant centers may require that they be detoxed
for 6 months, under doctors care, in order to be evaluated
for the list. And there are other things, also.
If someone needs a transplant immediately..say they
are in an accident that destroys the entire organ or
their life depends on it right away…they may be placed
at the top of the list. It is a fair system. The ” surgical”
Transplant Team of doctors don’t meet everyone on the
list right away; the patient stays with the department
(cardiology, gastroenterology, etc) to be observed and
taken care of and then turned over to the surgical team.
I hope this information has been of some help to you.
November 30th, 2011 at 2:05 am
In my opinion, the way it is done at transplant centers is the most fair system for all. Everyone needing a transplant goes to the center to be evaluated to receive a transplant. This includes a lot of medical testing along with a psych evaluation. After the evaluation is completed, a board or group of doctors will go over all the tests results and decide together whether or not this person can be placed on the national waiting list to receive an organ.
Once the patient gets through this extensive process, they are then given a MELD (model for end stage liver disease) score which goes up to 40. This score is based on the results of 4 blood tests that show how close to total liver failure the person is at this time. The patient with the highest score would be the sickest. When an organ becomes available the person at the top of the list that is a match to the donor organ is called to receive the transplant. If there are more than one that is a match with the same score, the doctors will then decide who gets it.
Now I’m going to use the liver as an example of how it works for alcoholics/drug addicts that need a transplant due to them destroying their own organ. Transplant centers usually require at least 6 months of proven sobriety before they will consider them to receive a transplant. They must also pass the evaluation just like everyone else must do. They must agree to have random drug/alcohol testing done anytime the clinic asks them for one. If they ever are positive, they will be removed from the waiting list. While they detox for those first 6 months, they must also go into rehab or counseling to address their addiction. They must show the doctors that they are very serious about making a total lifestyle change. They must be committed to remaining sober for the rest of their life. It is especially difficult for the alcoholic or drug addict to get a transplant because they must not only deal with being sick with disease itself, but they must also deal with their addiction problem at the same time. It’s not easy for them.
Once they are placed on the list and do everything that is required of them, they will receive their organ just like everyone else on the waiting list. They will not be put at the bottom of the list because of their addiction. I personally believe that if someone is willing to completely clean up their act and make big life changes that really address the core of their problem that they should be given a second chance. I have personal experience with this myself since I have a biliary disease that destroyed my liver and had to wait on the list for an organ transplant for 18 months.