Kidney transplant declined due to mental disability

You understand Organs aren't exactly 10 a penny right?

There has to be some sort of qualification to determine who gets them, generally they go on the kind of quality of life the person will get out of it. Yes it is terrible, I agree, but the only future she has is being cared for every second of her waking life.
 
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Fenris said:
You understand Organs aren't exactly 10 a penny right?

There has to be some sort of qualification to determine who gets them, generally they go on the kind of quality of life the person will get out of it.
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Read the article.

The family said they were willing to donate their own kidney and even pay for the surgery.
 
arctine said:
Read the article.

The family said they were willing to donate their own kidney and even pay for the surgery.
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Ah, I see, I missed that I apologise.

Now I agree that it is pretty horrible that they wont allow someone to donate privately, all they would be doing by transplanting organs into this child is extending a life in which she will need to be cared for in it's entirety until she needs ANOTHER transplant and so on, I can understand their point. They do also say that due to her condition the post transplant drugs etc could cause her even more damage.

However, it is pretty odd that they would refuse private donation, that doesn't seem like something they should have a hand in if the procedure is going to be paid for privately as well.
 
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arctine said:
Read the article.

The family said they were willing to donate their own kidney and even pay for the surgery.
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That all in consideration, there are still risks to performing this surgery and possible complications due to her condition. Loss of a kidney + family member + money is worse than not going through with it, if those risks are there.
 
Although I can see it from the parents' point of view, I can also see it from the doctors' point of view. The kid will probably require 5 - 6 transplants throughout her lifetime; that's a lot of kidneys. It's also important to bare in mind that the quality of life will be poor, however, surely that's better than leaving her to die? It's hard to favour one party over the other in this situation; a tricky one I must say.
 
could an adult donate a kidney to a child that young? Wouldnt it be the wrong... I dunno... size or something? (sorry if thats a stupid question)

Also I really dont mean to be cruel in saying this, but there is the question about whether its wise to use a transplanted organ on someone whos mentally handicapped. Such people often have next to zero quality of life and poor life expectations. It could be argued the organ would be better used on a child with a better chance at a normal life.

Mind you that opens up a whole can of worms that I really dont want any part of. So for that reason, I'm out.

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Without being a doctor and seeing the complete case history and the understanding of the possible outcomes its hard to comment.

The doctor(s) in this case are probably correct, they are more likely to be objective then a close family.

I know they are trying to use a family members organ, but if my organs even get donated after I die I would want the doctors to give them to the person in the very best position to use them to the fullest extent.
 
Fair to deny her place on a waiting list. However if the family will provide the transplant and pay for all expenses why would the doctor deny the surgery? Anybody from the industry who could clear up the reason? Is he going on the assumption that this is all a lot of effort for low chance of survival and long term stability?
 
POB said:
Without being a doctor and seeing the complete case history and the understanding of the possible outcomes its hard to comment.

The doctor(s) in this case are probably correct, they are more likely to be objective then a close family.
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This tbh.

This clearly isn't a simple black and white situation. I'm gonna sit on the fence and say only that I'm seriously glad I'm not the one who has to make this decision.
 
Nerusy said:
Fair to deny her place on a waiting list. However if the family will provide the transplant and pay for all expenses why would the doctor deny the surgery? Anybody from the industry who could clear up the reason? Is he going on the assumption that this is all a lot of effort for low chance of survival and long term stability?
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Obviously for one reason or another the doctors have decided it not to be worthwhile. What that reason is? I'm interested to know myself.

All we have here is a heavily biased story told by an obviously exasperated mother.
 
POB said:
Without being a doctor and seeing the complete case history and the understanding of the possible outcomes its hard to comment.

The doctor(s) in this case are probably correct, they are more likely to be objective then a close family.
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This really.

It's not "nice", but Life isn't.
 
Sadly medical decisions are dominated by money. Transplanting to a mentally healthy child which will undoubtedly extend their life to an extent where they can start repaying the taxes that have been spent on getting them to an earning age. With a mentally disabled child this will extend their life and increase the burden on the state. The world is a horrible place at times.

I do however think its is a disgrace that they will not allow the surgery with a self sourced organ.
 
Nerusy said:
Fair to deny her place on a waiting list. However if the family will provide the transplant and pay for all expenses why would the doctor deny the surgery?
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This is the thing that I don't understand. The healthcare is private in America, so if the family are paying for their daughters healthcare, surely the hospital should do the transplant.
 
shootersam said:
This is the thing that I don't understand. The healthcare is private in America, so if the family are paying for their daughters healthcare, surely the hospital should do the transplant.
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I think this is more an ethical decision than a monetary one.

In other words, I'm guessing the doctors reached this decision based on what they thought was ethically right.

For me at least, we don't have anywhere near enough details to judge this situation to any reasonable level.
 
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