I have the heart of a hero, and it’s not the one I was born with.

I received the Gift of Life in May, 2004 and can tell you that every extra day I’ve been given is a blessing. I have friends now that I never would have had, have gone places that I never would have lived to see and was at my grandmother’s bedside when she died at 104 years old- an event I would have preceded her by about 8 months if it weren’t for the gift.

You’ll notice that I keep calling it a “gift” and I do that on purpose. Had the organ been purchased I may have felt differently about my donor and look at life a little differently as well. Knowing that my donor, Kate, had fully intended for someone to live on after she died, that this was, in fact, the last altruistic gift she could make has made it a great deal easier for me to accept her heart as my own. Kate died young at 22 years old but part of her lives on in the 7 people she helped save.

“Transplant tourism” is a dangerous thing. In some countries it has been alleged that they’ll kill a political prisoner to get the organ they need to, all for the exchange of hard currency. Studies have shown that those who receive transplants out of this country and then return for follow-up care often have many more problems that those whose transplant doctors follow them closely from a US transplant center.

You make a valid point, though, with the fact that there are currently 100,000 people waiting on the transplant list run by UNOS (the only transplant list in this country). Of those an average of 18 of them will die, every day, waiting. Waiting for something that so many of us take for granted. I’m forever grateful that I wasn’t one of them!

There are many myths that surround organ and tissue donation and I won’t elaborate on them here, but the reader’s should be aware that there’s a big truth they may not be aware of: A single organ and tissue donor can help save or enhance the lives of up to 50 people! Anyone who does that willingly after their own life has been extinguished, is a hero in anyone’s book.

I have my ordinary life back because someone chose to do something extraordinary: To become an organ and tissue donor . . . to become a hero.

Go to http://www.donatelife.net for more information on signing up in your state.

Any person wanting to pay to get the higher on the organ availability list should be able to do so and the giver should be able to get the funds or pass it on the their relatives. For a company to get the organs free and then charge for them is business but also a racket.
Those that abused their organs are on the bottom of the list unless they are willing to pay what the market will bear to the recipient. having a monetary reward to the recipient will eliminate the backlog of people waiting if they can pay.

No one but a transplant recipient/ waiting for a transplant understands what it is like to have to wait for an organ. I am 19 and recently had a heart transplant, it is hard to describe what it feels like to have a artificial heart keeping me alive. I only had to wait 11 days to get my heart, but I know a woman that is waiting for a kidney transplant, and understand her battle with having to wait to get an organ. I blieve that healthy people should be able to sell their kidneys. Many people live with one healthy kidney, and are able to function normally, so I do not understand why kidneys can not be sold. Not only would this enrich and save many lives, it would promote the donation of organs by others after their deaths. But it is often argued, well what about people that can’t afford to buy a kidney? Thats when UNOS would kick in. If you think about it, as the supply of kidneys goes up, the price would go down (I know I am applying economics to body parts) therefore, organs would be more affordable. This could save lives. However, there would have to be a “UNOS” for this, making sure people were matched as perfectly as possible.

Wow- a lot of ethical questions thrown out here. This topic was my dissertation for my MSN (in Nurse Anesthesia). Personally- I feel there should not be an age limit on transplants- who is to say that a 70 year old doesn’t have a long healthy 20 years left? I do have my qualms about drug and alcohol abuse- if they are an “active” addict- that is a waste of a good organ(s) in my opinion- and most likely will not be successful if the recipient is still abusing. I have HUGE problems with the ethics behind financial incentives- other than covering the cost of organ procurement and cost of keeping the donor “stable” until procurement (cost of ICU stay, etc…)- I do not think that there should be any other compensation. I also feel that money should have zero bearing on if a patient gets an organ or not- then the wealthy would get the organs first- and that is totally out of the “do no harm” oath in my opinion. It should be based on need- not money. I don’t like the idea of paying people for “healthy” organs- ie: kidneys, partial liver. Too risky for the donor- and I don’t believe in putting someone at risk for the benefit of another person- especially only for money- when family members donate kidneys or such- that is fine b/c there is a bond/relationship there- but for money- thats getting a little unethical to me. SOrry for ranting! Love the topic though! Ultimately I feel donating is a “gift” given selflessly to someone who needs something that you don’t need (or can’t use) anymore b/c hopefully you’ve moved on to a better place!
Peace!

To give some background, I had a liver transplant in 2005.
I don’t the the age should be a factor as much as their heath.
Can their body recover from a major surgery and they still be able to leave a productive live?
Does this person have someone that the can rely on?

As for dependency issues: Only if the history of the last abuse was at least 2 years ago, should they be put on the candidate’s list.

If they can not take care of themselves with an addiction now,
They can not take care of themselves with a transplant and their initial problem.

This is a very complicated issue. It really has to be thought out and handled on case by case basis.

I would have to agree with paying people to get organs. I for one will never be a donor unless I get something back. Not even donating blood without being paid. This is a capitalist country, and lets let the market decide if its a good idea. Sure people who are richer may get organ but thats our system. Also I think there needs to be an age limit and if history of drug and alchol abuse, sorry you get booted off list. Hurting yourself is not reason to be helped. Same as anyone in prision. No organ transplant either.

No money no organ.

Reply to Kim: “I don’t believe in putting someone at risk for the benefit of another person- especially only for money-”
You would fire all the policemen and firemen and soldiers and truck drivers and bus drivers and tree trimmers, especially the ones who are doing it ‘only for the money’? And eliminate those and other risky professions?

I feel there should be legitimate thought placed on the selling of organs. If people want to sell theire organs they should be able to do that. I agree also that people who have chronically abused their bodies should not be on a donor list before people whoe have taken care of themselves and ended up in need.

2008-11-07 Fox News Illegal trafficking of human organs
I will certainly not give away my precious organs for free. I believe that some people have contributed more to the world, like successful business people and scientists and engineers, and are more deserving of my organs. I believe that the market is the best available way to decide. That the person that can pay the most for my organs is probably one of the most deserving. The one that will most benefit the world by living longer.

My brother has been waiting for his second kidney transplant for 2 years. My Mother donated the first one. We do not have any other family members that are a good match and the friends that have gotten tested also have not been a match. He is placed lower on the transplant list for two reason. Number 1 he is 34 years old. Patients younger than him would come first and Two, it would be his second transplant…anyone awaiting a first transplant would come first. I think being able to buy organs under VERY strict rules is a wonderful idea. Take for example a priosner sitting on death row. He will be in prison for life. Maybe he is very sorry for his crimes and wants to try and make it up to his family. Selling his kidney and giving the money to his family would be a way to make him feel better. But I think that there should be VERY strict rules so that buying kidneys doesn’t only benfit the rich. Like you have to remain on the donation list for a certain amount of time before being able to buy one regardless of the amount of money you have.

People should be able to buy organs. There should be STRICT rules, but the option should be available. Death Row inmates is a great example. If they were offered money to sell their organs, I beleive alot would do it. Alot of inmates are in jail for life. And alot of those inmates are sorry for the crimes they committed and want to make it up to their families. This is a great option for them to be able to send the money to their families. My brother is has been waiting for his 2nd kidney transplant. The first one was donated by our mother. There are no other family members or friends that are a match so we have no other option right now but to wait and pray that one will become available. If buying one was legal we would do that. Not to say that our family is rich….but do you know of a better reason to take out a personnal loan ? He is lower on the waiting list now for two reasons. One, because of his age. He is 34…anyone younger would be considered first. And Two, because it is his second transplant. Anyone waiting for the first transplant would be considered first. Donation is not enough, there needs to be other ways available.

Over the past few years there have been many news reports of “medical professionals” taking part in the unauthorized removal, stealing and selling of body parts from unsuspecting patients and non-patients alike, dead or alive. The world-wide trade (buying and selling) and stealing of body parts is a multi-billion dollar “business”. Everyone from nurses and ambulance drivers/attendants to doctors, surgeons and even morgue attendants and funeral home operators have been caught participating in these crimes. These illegal activities engaged in by medical “professionals” have taken place in many countries and on every continent. If any of you think this happens only in poor countries in Asia, Africa and South America, then you need to get your head out of the sand, give it a good shake and open your eyes. Since in the wealthy industrialized world we, in Canada, are near the bottom when it comes to patient safety/medical errors and hospital hygiene, for example, then why would we think that in other problematic areas of our healthcare, like body parts stealing, we would be so much safer? Sadly, the worldwide human body parts “business” is similar in many ways to the auto parts business. “Parts” are bought, sold, exchanged, stolen etc., and the “parts” dealers (junkyard operators and some doctors/surgeons) have phone “hotlines” etc. to exchange “parts” information. Our “holier than thou” and “business as usual” medical institutions/hospitals etc. have lulled us into a false sense of security. The recent news reports about a doctor in Canada involved in stealing and/or buying and selling hundreds of kidneys from willing or unwilling “donors” is just the tip of the developing iceberg. Just keep your eyes and ears open. Signed, Mark Mager of London (our medical “Mecca”), Ontario, Canada. markmager@rogers.com

Per the organ donation question:

* With the severe shortage of organs, I feel that the recipients at the head of the list should be the youngest and healthiest persons for whom an organ transplant would represent the longest extension of life.

* Persons who have a history of drug an/or alcohol abuse should be moved to the bottom of the organ recipient list. Again in my opinion this is a direct result of the limited number of donors available.

* As far as financial incentives are concerned, these shouldn’t be allowed for either the recipient or donor. I am concerned that if incentives were in place, this would open up the whole organ transplant process to significant abuse. Quite possibly it would result in the donors being the poor citizens and the recipients being the rich citizens.

I will be interested to see the results of this poll.

Don M.

If in foreign countries, someone other than the CEO and Healthcare director want to make a profit, how is that so controversial? Do you think physians here in the US are not paid for doing transplants? Yes, physicians and hospitals here in the US are reimbursed, only there are a bunch of intermediaries that also want a cut. We have our lists which exclude drug addicts, etc and give preferences based on age, but who is to say we should have that right. If someone has enough money to buy an organ wherever it be and wants to bypass the American healthcare system, more power to them, that is freedom of choice. They should only be aware that the organ they purchase abroad could be conatiminated with incurable viruses or obtained at the expense of someone’s death. I don’t know if you can justify your life at the cost of another persons.

to LUTfreak- Very different kind of “risk” that you and I are talking about- one is a JOB that puts those people at risk- yes, it is for money, but they have chosen this “career” to do somthing that may be risky. The other is a one time surgery to get money for a very serious and risky surgery. These surgeries are FAR from benign and there are NUMEROUS serious risks for the donor. The risks far outweigh the benefits and as a healthcare provider I see this as possibly doing harm- and I could not do that in good faith. May just be my opinion- but organ donation should be about donating (a gift)- not about money!

i have human organs for sale

CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT’S WRONG WITH TAKING CARE OF MY FAMILY BY SELLING MY HEALTHY ORGANS? THEY ARE MY ORGANS AND SHOULD BE ABLE TO USE THEM IN ANY WAY I SEE FIT!!!

Unfortunately money will always play a big role as to how this area of science will play out in the future. ( can it be regulated with out bias? ) There will always be those who want it and those apposed to it. It is as though it will end up as a market place of those requesting the organs and those looking for the highest bidder. We know that transplants work even though there are risks associated with the procedure, but its better than loosing one’s life for not doing it.

George w

LA