{macro question(showVoteTotal)}
    <div class="poll-question">
      {if keyType == "discussion"}
        <a href="/forums/?plckForumPage=ForumDiscussion&plckDiscussionId=${key}#forumPostTitle_1" title="View discussion">
          ${poll.Question}
        </a>
      {else}
        ${poll.Question}
      {/if}
      {if showVoteTotal}
        <span class="poll-votes">(${poll.TotalVotes} ${"vote"|pluralise:poll.TotalVotes})</span>
      {/if}
    </div>
  {/macro}
  <div class="slResults" {if !noVote}style="display:none;"{/if}>
    ${question(true)}
    <table class="slAnswerStats" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
      {for answer in poll.Answers}
        <tr class="slAnswerStat slAnswerStat_${answer_index}">
          <td class="slAnswer">${answer.Answer}</td>
          <td class="slAnswerBarCell">
            <div class="slAnswerBar">
              <div class="slAnswerCount">${answer.NumberOfVotes} ${"vote"|pluralise:answer.NumberOfVotes} (${answer.PercentageStr}%)</div>
              <div class="slAnswerBarPercent" style="width: ${answer.Percentage}%;"></div>
            </div>
          </td>
        </tr>
      {/for}
    </table>
    {if !noVote}<div class="results"><a href="javascript:void(0);" class="slVoteLink">Go vote!</a></div>{/if}
  </div>

{if !noVote}
  <div class="slVote">
    <div class="slErrorText">You must select one answer before submitting your vote.</div>
    ${question(false)}
    <table class="slAnswers" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">
      {for answer in poll.Answers}
        {var answerId = poll.PollKey.Key + '.' + answer_index}
        <tr>
          <td class="slAnswerInput">
            <input type="radio" name="answers" value="${answer_index}" id="${answerId}"/>
          </td>
          <td class="slAnswerText">
            <label for="${answerId}">${answer.Answer}</label>
          </td>
        </tr>
      {/for}
    </table>
    <div style="clear: both; margin-left: 8px;">
      <div class="slSendAnswer"><input class="slVoteButton" type="button" value="Vote" /></div>
      <div class="results"><a href="javascript:void(0);" class="slResultsLink">View Results...</a></div>
    </div>
  </div>
  {/if}

What do you think?

To use this site you must have Javascript enabled

doc2doc is a doctors community site with secure doctor forum & doctors social networking. Join for free today to get answers from your peers to your clinical questions

Should an autistic man be denied a heart transplant?

False

Medical ethics

Should an autistic man be denied a heart transplant?

Discuss ethical issues with the Medical Ethics department of the BMA and the Institute of Medical Ethics. Please note, the views posted here do not necessarily represent the views of the BMA or the IME

I saw this question posed in an article on THIS WEEK: http://theweek.com/article/index/232120/should-an-autistic-man-be-denied-a-heart-transplant An autistic patient, 23, needs a heart transplant but

0

Cat:OpenClinicalForum:MedicalEthics

Cat:OpenClinicalForum:MedicalEthicsDiscussion:13106fd8-a43c-4388-b068-2ec8f41475da

[
						{"Key" : "Cat:OpenClinicalForum:MedicalEthicsDiscussion:13106fd8-a43c-4388-b068-2ec8f41475daPost:1ac87486-f89c-4b5d-9481-94f77a5fd602","Timestamp" : new Date(2012, 7, 20, 11, 15, 1, 192)} ,					{"Key" : "Cat:OpenClinicalForum:MedicalEthicsDiscussion:13106fd8-a43c-4388-b068-2ec8f41475daPost:73d73c4b-7fd3-411d-97d0-7ea5725c2f8e","Timestamp" : new Date(2012, 7, 20, 11, 45, 2, 342)} ,					{"Key" : "Cat:OpenClinicalForum:MedicalEthicsDiscussion:13106fd8-a43c-4388-b068-2ec8f41475daPost:39cb64b9-68be-45f4-8070-0d08fd0583c7","Timestamp" : new Date(2012, 7, 20, 14, 42, 53, 982)} ,					{"Key" : "Cat:OpenClinicalForum:MedicalEthicsDiscussion:13106fd8-a43c-4388-b068-2ec8f41475daPost:26232086-968f-4a05-bde9-c451858d2d82","Timestamp" : new Date(2012, 7, 20, 22, 6, 11, 215)} ,					{"Key" : "Cat:OpenClinicalForum:MedicalEthicsDiscussion:13106fd8-a43c-4388-b068-2ec8f41475daPost:e16f024b-9b19-4ab9-bfe6-ad4163ade1ee","Timestamp" : new Date(2012, 7, 21, 5, 46, 36, 348)} ,					{"Key" : "Cat:OpenClinicalForum:MedicalEthicsDiscussion:13106fd8-a43c-4388-b068-2ec8f41475daPost:cd83b925-18bd-4bbc-a784-57dacb7949cd","Timestamp" : new Date(2012, 7, 23, 22, 7, 43, 545)} 				]

Forums » Open clinical » Medical ethics » Should an autistic man be denied a heart transplant?

You must be logged in to contribute. Log in | Register

Forums » Open clinical » Medical ethics » Should an autistic man be denied a heart transplant?

Should an autistic man be denied a heart transplant?

posted at 20/8/2012 11:15 AM BST on bmj.com

*Moderator*

mbillingsley

Posts: 1443
First: 7/4/2011
Last: 21/5/2013

I saw this question posed in an article on THIS WEEK: http://theweek.com/article/index/232120/should-an-autistic-man-be-denied-a-heart-transplant

An autistic patient, 23, needs a heart transplant but has been denied it because doctors think that his mental disability could limit his chances of survival. I am assuming that the doctors will select patients who have the greatest chance to live a long life with the new organ. The news report claims that "Colby is currently taking 19 different medications to deal with his heart condition and quell his anxiety."

"This case is controversial, however, because the denial is based on a mental rather than an anatomical problem that would more conclusively lower his chance of surviving the transplant."

Is this a fair decision or is it discrimination?

New post Reply to this post

Re: Should an autistic man be denied a heart transplant?

posted at 20/8/2012 11:45 AM BST on bmj.com

skyesteve

Posts: 1264
First: 13/4/2010
Last: 20/5/2013

Unless they are certain that his autism would limit his life subtantially they should not deny.

New post Reply to this post

Re: Should an autistic man be denied a heart transplant?

posted at 20/8/2012 2:42 PM BST on bmj.com

NCantley

Posts: 324
First: 23/12/2011
Last: 3/5/2013

Like the case of Mr Nicklinson, it is a case that would certainly pull on the heart strings. Yet, when you see that the patient is having to take so many medications (19) to stay on top of the heart problem and mental deficits- you can see why they may doubt the future prospects of the patients.
I think that many may not be able to look past the fact the patient is autistic and therefore sympathise with the patient instead of not looking at the facts behind the case and the complex situation of his mental state.

Although, how they come to the conclusion that his mental state impacts on his ability to survive the transplant??? He would undoubtedly need some sort of support currently so why would he not get the same sort of support post this transplant?

New post Reply to this post

Re: Should an autistic man be denied a heart transplant?

posted at 20/8/2012 10:06 PM BST on bmj.com

yoram chaiter

Posts: 1784
First: 7/3/2009
Last: 18/5/2013

Autism has a very wide spectrum. Some are PDD with difficulties in ADL, some can be Aspergers that are at the high spectrum of functioning.

You all know the stories about people with autism that are extremely gifted in a certain area(Music, computers, math ETC.).

Therefore, just having the title of autism is no excuse to deny the person of having a heart transplant.

New post Reply to this post

Re: Should an autistic man be denied a heart transplant?

posted at 21/8/2012 5:46 AM BST on bmj.com

sadian

Posts: 875
First: 17/6/2011
Last: 20/5/2013

Heart transplantation is limited by the number of organs available - many more people could benefit than will currently get a transplant. I see the ethical question differently then and think we have a duty to the donors and their families to transplant those patients who benefit the most and part of this then is to assess people for conditions that might impair their ability to cope with the intensive follow-up and drug regime or that might mean that the overall 'gain' is less
sadian

New post Reply to this post

Re: Should an autistic man be denied a heart transplant?

posted at 23/8/2012 10:07 PM BST on bmj.com

Dr. K. Ashutosh

Posts: 3045
First: 27/3/2012
Last: 20/5/2013

It is true & I agree with Yoram that an autstic man should not be ethically denied a heart transplantation. At the same time the point raised by Sadian also seems extremely important about the latter follow up of the patient.

New post Reply to this post

Forums » Open clinical » Medical ethics » Should an autistic man be denied a heart transplant?