The problem with easing the criteria for "harvesting" organs, is that each step potentially provides an avenue for undue pressure to be brought on the doctors to certify that the donor's case is hopeless, so that harvesting can be done
Pray you are not in the hospital when some VIP needs your organs
The battle to save two-year-old Joe Towey was the longest resuscitation yet carried out in the UK, he said.
He had been discovered by his parents, Michael Towey and Jennifer Nock, in the water at his Birmingham home on Boxing Day and rushed to the city's Heartlands Hospital.
Eight doctors and nurses led by Dr Nick Makwana worked non-stop to revive Joe, who has since made a full recovery from his life-threatening ordeal.
Dr Makwana said: "When he pulled through it made you think: 'Gosh, this job is so worthwhile.'"
The medic said Joe survived because the cold water, coupled with the chilly winter weather and his small size, caused his temperature to plummet suddenly, sending him effectively into a deep freeze which prevented brain injury.
Using cardiac massage equipment, the medical team worked for more than five hours to make Joe's heart beat again and another two stabilising him.
"Even when we managed to find his heartbeat, it was still a very critical situation," Dr Makwana said.
"He had been without a heartbeat for five hours, so we had to be very guarded. We were very conscious that he could be brain damaged.
"But once we knew he was going to be OK there was a real sense of achievement."
He added: "We subsequently found out that it was the longest successful resuscitation ever carried out in the UK."
Joe was today back at his home in Yardley Wood celebrating the arrival of his new brother, four-day-old Jack.
Mr Towey, a builder, said: "Joe was dead, he was completely gone.
"But the staff at Heartlands were amazing - they never gave up.