Organ Donations

[donnA]

Wouldn't a living will prevent this, Donna? For example, if someone has given instructions to pull the plug after they've been on life support for a certain amount of time, would that work?

It would at least give you some kind of control over what happens to you.
But it's still the doctor's call whether or not he considers you alive.
I would want to be brain dead9 as many tests as they can do to prove it to my family), and a machine pumping my heart, thats technically dead, or at least to me it's enough. Personally I beleive a person like this is dead, they are gone, humans playing god keep the heart artificially pumping, in the semblance of life when no life is there.
But thats my thought on it.

 

[chuck2336]

I am guessing a lot of people do not realize that in order to donate most organs, you must still be technically alive. They cannot take your heart or lung and some other organs if you are dead. So they take out your organs they want while you are still alive, then pull the plug.

Therefore, in states that lean strongly toward not keeping someone alive (like here in VA), it is risky to be an organ donor. They might take your organs too soon.

I am not nor do I plan to be an organ donor.

This is not entirely correct. A body is by most accounts dead, it is only by the use of machines that blood continues to circulate. This is to maintain vitality of the organs. When the organs are harvested the patient is treated with the same care and respect, as would any other patient having any other surgery.

IMHO being an organ donor is an ultimate act of service.

 

[chuck2336]

The body medically has to be alive in order for the organs to be useful Jim. the point is, at what point does a doctor declare a person dead, in order to harvest their organs before it's too late for the organs. Once the body has died the organs are not usable.

Brain activity is but one measure they use to determine viability.

 

[annsni]

The thing that bothers me in the article is that now they are deciding who's life is more worthy and who's is not. So the 74 year old man's life is not worthy of getting a liver whereas the 25 year old's is - when we don't know if the 74 year old man is a man who will touch many more lives due to medical research - save the life of others due to his wisdom and expertise as a miner - or whatever. We also don't know if the 25 year old is stupid and immature and will die in 2 years due to a drug overdose or driving wrecklessly. Who are we to assign value to a life based on age? That's just sad.

As for organ donation, they do not take organs from those who are living. These people have been declared brain dead or are physically dead. Yes, they can harvest organs from a body that is dead.

 

[FriendofSpurgeon]

With a wickedly low number of available organs, UNOS is in a very difficult position. It would be wonderful if there were enough organs to go around, but there simply aren't. And the number of needed transplants are increasing each year -- largely in part to the dramatic increase in diabetes. Already, there are certain protocols in place. For example, you cannot receive a liver transplant and still be drinking alcohol.

The best course of action for anyone needing kidney or marrow transplant is to find a willing, living donor -- as you do not need a cadaver.

 

[Marcia]

This is not entirely correct. A body is by most accounts dead, it is only by the use of machines that blood continues to circulate. This is to maintain vitality of the organs. When the organs are harvested the patient is treated with the same care and respect, as would any other patient having any other surgery.

IMHO being an organ donor is an ultimate act of service.

Actually, determining if the person is dead is the controversy here. There is disagreement among doctors as to when and what constitutes death - cardiac death, cessation of brain function, etc. I think this is treading into God's territory.

If you are in this state and they think your life is worth less than the person who needs organs, the plug could be pulled too soon. There are no safeguards with this in some states.

If you are okay with someone declaring you dead when you may not be so they can have your organs, by all means, be an organ donor. But I was advised by the lawyer I worked for (one of the top euthansia attorneys) to not be an organ donor in my state.

 

[Marcia]

As for organ donation, they do not take organs from those who are living. These people have been declared brain dead or are physically dead. Yes, they can harvest organs from a body that is dead.

But the point is - when is someone declared dead? This is subjective and controversial. Doctors disagree.

They cannot harvest many organs if you have died, such as the heart or lung. You must still be breathing (even on a machine).