Organ Donation and Terri Schiavo

[madhat]

I'm going to try to raise this discussion again because I think it's important. We all agree that organ donation is very important and it ought to be part of our living will/instructions to whomever is making decisions about us when we're incapacitated.

"More than 87,000 people are waiting for the gift of life" according to the HHS organ donor site

http://www.organdonor.gov/

"Each day, about 70 people receive an organ transplant. However, 17 people die each day waiting for transplants that can’t take place because of the shortage of donated organs. Please decide today to make your wishes known about organ and tissue donation. "

Put yourself in the place of the parents or guardians of organ donors. Their loved one is near death and they make the decision -- rationally and in consultation with the doctor -- that the dotor should try to harvest organs as quickly as possible BEFORE the person is dead.

This entire issue is being lost in the Terri Schiavo debate and the rabid "pro-life at any cost" debate.

[trotsky]

1. A great reminder.

Interesting how the "culture of life" people don't seem to care about that. I guess you have to put them on the liver waiting list before they'll appreciate it.

Everyone, sign up to be an organ donor and make your wishes known with your family!

[madhat]

4. Love your screen name.

:)

[Wickerman]

2. I don't in any way mean to be insensitive

but must ask; would a person who's life is ended in the manner as the Schiavo case be of any transplant value? From what I recall of the discussion death in this event is through organ failure.

Disclaimer:
I 100% agree with organ donation, am a donor by license and at my medical center and my family is aware of my wishes - and, I got no axe in the Schiavo deal.

[wtbymark]

3. No, re: Schiavo organ donation

Once they administer a morphine drip to facilitate death the organs are rendured medically useless (i know this from experience) I don't know what condition her organs were in a week ago, but, if they were in good condition something probably could have been donated. The problem is if you remove a liver before an 'organ failure' death, removing the organ is the facilitator, which is currently medically unethical. Catch 22

[Wickerman]

5. makes sense

thanks!

:hi:

[REP]

6. I'm A Kidney Patient

I agree with the courts in re Schiavo. I don't, however, see her as a repository for spare parts that she's selfishly hanging on to. Organ donation is a separate issue from this case.