Posted on 04/12/2008 10:39:56 AM PDT by freerepublic_or_die
With her mother desperately in need of a transplant, Laura Ashworth told family and friends she wanted to donate one of her kidneys.
So when the 21-year-old died after an asthma attack, it seemed that the tragedy would at least give Rachel Leake a chance of a healthy new life. But because Laura had not begun the formal process of becoming a "living donor," the authorities refused to let her mother receive her organs. Instead they went to strangers at the top of the waiting list.
Rachel Leake says her daughter Laura 'would be devastated that she was not able to help me'"All I wanted to do was carry out her wishes," said 39-year-old Mrs Leake. "She would have been so upset that she was not able to help her mum. Even the transplant coordinator was crying her eyes out. She really tried to get her bosses to change their minds but they would not budge."
Although the Human Tissue Authority has the power to allow "directed" donor requests of this kind, a blanket ban is in force while an ethical review of such transplants is carried out. Despite an appeal to health ministers by the family's MP, Gerry Sutcliffe, Laura's kidneys went to a man in Sheffield and a man in London, while her liver was given to a 15-year-old girl.
Mrs Leake urgently needs another kidney and as a diabetic she could also have benefited from receiving her daughter's pancreas. She had a kidney transplant five years ago, but the donated organ failed last year and she needs dialysis in hospital three times a week to stay alive.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
You wrote: No bureacratic drones HAVE THE RIGHT TO take away the right of who gets an individual’s body parts.
I was referring to the mom and daughter.
Or two.
Why do you think it would likely have been a poor decision? Is it only because the mother’s body rejected a non-family donor’s kidney, previously?
I’m thinking that the daughter’s kidney would have been more suited to the mother, and had a more likely chance of success.
And I agree with you too. Poor decision -— POSSIBLY-—(no one especailly medical “ethicists” can have any absolute truth)-—but theirs to make, not the drones.
“While I absolutely believe that daughter should have had the right to donate to her mother directly, it looks like that might have been a poor medical decision. Mom has already rejected a donated kidney and is also diabetic.”
And your point is? Diabetes is one of the leading causes of kidney failure incase you didn’t know that. It doesn’t have to be uncontrolled either they just give up after years of the diease. By your thinking a diease like diabetes should keep you from recieving a transplant? I sure hope if I ever need a transplant that someone with your attitude isn’t in charge of organ procurement! I’m going on 38 years as a type 1 diabetic with my original kidneys so who knows what could happen in the future. I don’t think at 47yo that I should be denied because something way beyond my control happened to me. Socialized medicine sacres me to death!
And another Man one day will decide on these cases.
Yes, I would guess that the stress on the mom's body, having rejected that kidney, might make a new transplant less likely to be successful. Also, the diabetes could make things more complicated.
I'm no expert, by any means! It was just a passing thought in my head as I read the article.
If I could give one of my parents more time by donating an organ, I'd probably do it, even if the doctors thought it was a bad decision.
In general, no. One can be an overall healthy person with diabetes, or one can be an ill person with diabetes and every gradation in between. Doesn't diabetes make it more difficult for people to heal, in general?
I'd guess that a person who has diabetes (or asthma or poor circulation or liver disease) and general poor health might have a lesser chance at having a donation go well.
I’m glad you posted that.
When a daughter wants to give a kidney to her mom, for the state to step in and refuse that donation for ANY reason is immoral, wicked, vicious, and potentially murderous.
This is the consequence of socialized medicine—all your tissues belong to us and we can dispose of them as we will, regardless of your wishes. If such a thing happened in my family, I doubt that the fact that others were saved would be any consolation whatsoever; if the mother dies, which can happen on dialysis for any number of reasons, I am quite sure that any thought of such consolation would be outrageously insulting.
People with diabetes can live a normal life span if they can stay healthy otherwise. Of course, when the “state” makes these decisions, who are the subjects to demur?
When it is controlled, it's less of a concern; almost nil.
Gee, it looks like you're saying that only healthy people should get organ donations.....
Seriously, Dianna. Your impersonal detachment here does not do you credit. This was a daughter who wanted to give her kidney to her mother, and the state stepped in and said, no, the paperwork is incomplete. The mother has a far better chance of doing well with her daughter's kidney than a stranger's "match."
A glimpse at what slavery is all about.
For example, China.
I would probably have worded things more like "if my mother does not get my kidney, then NOBODY gets ANY of my organs. Period"
That is not necessarily true. My SIL runs a disalysis center and it is not uncommon for a person who has rejected a kidney to do better with a second transplant of an organ more suitable to their bodies. It's not something done everyday of course, but it isn't uncommon; even among diabetics.
I’d give you a kidney, if I was the right blood type.
I’ve already given you my heart, what’s a kidney? (grin)
BINGO. That is EXACTLY how my organ donor position is. Mine will go to family or close friends or into the grave with me.
The state owns you in Britan...
This story and others concerning organ donation have about convinced me to get a new driver’s license without the organ donor notification.
Politics and bureaucrats and general scumbags seem to eventually involved themselves in everything.
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