Policy change (harvesting before death) could ease organ shortage

Denver Post ^ | August 15, 2002 | Allison Sherry

[RJCogburn]

Good story. Thanks.

[RJCogburn]

I agree. It makes no sense to me why persons who know they will die, or their families cannot sell organs. If I and you do not own our own mortal bodies then who does?

[BenLurkin]

"Oh, brave new world. . ."

[EdJay]

I'm confused. What is the issue?

They're talking about taking organs from people "whose hearts have stopped." Does anybody think that when your heart has stopped, you're actually alive?

[templar]

Wonder how long it has to have been stopped?

[Mulder]

Does anybody think that when your heart has stopped, you're actually alive?

It's possible to be recesitated (sp) after heart failure.

This issue has nothing to do with "helping people" and everything to do with advancing an agenda that cheapens human life.

[Mulder]

Wonder how long it has to have been stopped?

Long enough for some greedy organ troll to decide that someone's life is less important than their desire to redistribute organs, just like they want to redistribute all other property. In other words, about a millisecond

[mcsparkie]

My organs are for sale. No exceptions.

[Xaverri]

Great.. so this is essentially saying that if you go into the hospital cause of a ehart attack, or, hell, even a bypass surgery (and they have to stop your heart), you could wake up missing a liver, lung, kidney, or whatever.. if you even do wake up.. That's reassuring.

[07055]

They're talking about taking organs from people "whose hearts have stopped."

In many cases, your heart will stop because they disconnected you from the ventilator. Many people need a ventilator for a period of time, but then recover and are released from the hospital.

But, if you happen to have an "in demand" blood type, it wouldn't be too hard to stop your ventilator, which stops your heart, which allows them to harvest your organs for someone they deem "more worthy" of life than you.

[backhoe]

Dear God Almighty! This story is so creepy and ghoulish I don't know where to start.
Years ago I wrote a short story, "Neomort," about brain dead patients who were kept alive for organ harvesting...

...unfortunately, not all of them were quite brain-dead. That being the crux of the plot.

[Carolina]

University Hospital officials said they expect to begin screening for donors in eight weeks and plan to get as many donors as possible. University has already begun training staff on how to recognize potential donors before they die.

To avoid looking predatory, the hospital will have someone from the Donor Alliance approach families.

They don't want to appear predatory or compromising patient care. Well, golly, how do you screen for donors then?

[sharktrager]

What I want is the right to sell my kidney and or part of my liver.

The way I see it, it's my body, and I should have the right to do with it as I wish. That's what they keep telling us, isn't it?

[BigWaveBetty]

Memo to self:

When visiting the Denver area make sure that heart beats continuously!

[BigWaveBetty]

The way I see it, it's my body, and I should have the right to do with it as I wish.

Oh sorry, that's only if you're a woman. /sarcasm

[vikingchick]

Shoot, why wait until the heart stops beating? Just hover by the bedside until they fall asleep, then pounce.

[Teacher317]

Of course, the law prohibits you from "selling" your organs.

yet when you donate your organs, the harvesting organization makes multi-thousands of dollars. If we had the Freedom to choose, then we would specify who could and could not receive our organs, what parts could and could not be used, and who would receive the proceeds of our gifts of donation. Unfortunately, we're not that free anymore... except to the harvesting organizations.

[Mulder]

Just hover by the bedside until they fall asleep, then pounce.

The organ goblins would love to do that, but they won't dare attempt it until the American people are totally disarmed.

Until such time, the organ fiend stands a good chance of having its day ruined by a 12 guage shotgun.

[DWSUWF]

"...Somewhere out there (probably in some dark alley in a third-world country), the Peepster is smiling diabolically...."

Geez...

The gut-harvesters are getting pushy, aren't they?

At this rate, we'll soon reach the point where those who don't want to be culled for spare parts will have to rip a page from the pali playbook and strap a dynamite belt on.

That way, if it looks like you're about to cash in your chips you can just shout: "Non-Donor Walkin' Boss!" and people will know to run (screaming) away from you as fast as possible.

Then, when the coast is clear, you do a Bruce Willis (Armageddon) and whisper through gritted teeth as you mash the detonator button, "We Win!"