Forums » Open clinical » Medical ethics » Should patients be kept alive to harvest their organs?
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Should patients be kept alive to harvest their organs?
posted at 13/2/2012 3:43 PM GMT
on bmj.com
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*Moderator*
Posts: 630
First: 7/4/2011 Last: 18/5/2012 |
In the UK there is a shortage of organ donors and the BMA has published a consultation document (Building on Progress: Where next for organ donation policy in the UK?) on how to find a way to provide more organs for patients who are in need of a transplant. One suggestion in the report is to use a practice called “elective ventilation” by where dead patients are kept alive so their organs can be used. The report says: “elective ventilation is different in that it involves starting ventilation, once it is recognised that the patient is close to death, with the specific intention of facilitating organ donation” . When the Royal Devon and Exeter introduced this in 1988, the number of organs available went up by 50% but the Department of Health banned this practice in 1994, declaring it unlawful. However, whilst this practice is used in Spain and the US, Nigel Heaton, professor of transplant surgery at King’s College hospital London said: “People have qualms about it. The concern is that you are prolonging or introducing futile treatment that has no benefi t for the patient. But I expect that views will gradually change around this [in its favour]. It’s an ongoing tragedy that so many people are still dying in this country for want of an organ.” BMA report: Building on Progress: Where next for organ donation policy in the UK? What do you think about elective ventilation? Is it ethical? |
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Re: Should patients be kept alive to harvest their organs?
posted at 13/2/2012 9:27 PM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 64
First: 23/12/2011 Last: 21/5/2012 |
I suppose that in one respect maybe the above suggestion would be good but I think it calls into question organ donation and the idea of an opt in or opt out method of organ transplant. In the above scenario, would the patient have consented to donation fully? If so why do they need to be 'kept alive,' why if the patient is close to death could the donation not be made then instead of quote 'keeping them alive.' |
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Re: Should patients be kept alive to harvest their organs?
posted at 13/2/2012 11:28 PM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 851
First: 12/3/2010 Last: 20/5/2012 |
I don't think we have the ICU beds to do this. They are almost always full of survivable,or hopefully survivable, patients. Should we displace those to ventilate a corpse, even if the corpse could give hope to several recipients? Of course not. Should we set up corpse ICUs, when the funding would better be put into ICU beds for survivables? Rhetorical Q, really, isn't it? John |
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Re: Should patients be kept alive to harvest their organs?
posted at 14/2/2012 3:40 PM GMT
on bmj.com
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First: 25/9/2009 Last: 14/2/2012 |
In Response to Re: Should patients be kept alive to harvest their organs?: There is however, one crucial thing that sticks out for me, how can you keep someone who is 'dead,' 'alive?' Surely by definition being dead is just that and they cant be alive. Someone help me out here? Posted by NCantley Hi, Absolutely, dead people cannot be 'kept alive' because they are already dead. This confusion was introduced by some of the reporting and headlines in media. As described above, elective ventilation involves ventilating people who are close to death, for a very short period of time until death is confirmed, with a number of safeguards built in. This is one of a number of issues discussed in the BMA's new report. The BMA is not advocating this but believes some debate about it would be helpful. Martin |
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Re: Should patients be kept alive to harvest their organs?
posted at 20/2/2012 3:49 PM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 28
First: 20/2/2012 Last: 3/4/2012 |
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Re: Should patients be kept alive to harvest their organs?
posted at 20/2/2012 5:13 PM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 383
First: 15/7/2011 Last: 21/5/2012 |
Just one thing. Please lets stop saying 'harvest'. What a disrespectful way to term a human being who gives their organs to help several people live. We are not talking about carrots or cauliflowers its a person. |
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Re: Should patients be kept alive to harvest their organs?
posted at 20/2/2012 5:40 PM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 64
First: 23/12/2011 Last: 21/5/2012 |
In Response to Re: Should patients be kept alive to harvest their organs?: Just one thing. Please lets stop saying 'harvest'. What a disrespectful way to term a human being who gives their organs to help several people live. We are not talking about carrots or cauliflowers its a person. Posted by kirked Well said. |
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Re: Should patients be kept alive to harvest their organs?
posted at 20/2/2012 8:33 PM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 15
First: 20/3/2011 Last: 20/2/2012 |
But surely if someone is kept 'alive' for a few hours in order to save many lives, less money would be spent on the healthcare of the transplant recipients in the long term? Someone who is on a transplant waiting list will require more medical care than someone who has had a successful transplant. Give it 10 years. Medical science and technology will come up with something I'm sure! |
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Re: Should patients be kept alive to harvest their organs?
posted at 21/2/2012 9:40 AM GMT
on bmj.com
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*Moderator*
Posts: 630
First: 7/4/2011 Last: 18/5/2012 |
Indeed, harvest is a rather disrespectful word. I only used it because it was the title used by a news report I read. A better choice of word could have been used. Any ideas? In Response to Re: Should patients be kept alive to harvest their organs?: Just one thing. Please lets stop saying 'harvest'. What a disrespectful way to term a human being who gives their organs to help several people live. We are not talking about carrots or cauliflowers its a person. Posted by kirked |
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