Cancer transplant

[Big Casino]

Corporal Matthew Millington, 31, died at his home in 2008, less than a year after receiving a transplant that was supposed to save his life at Papworth Hospital -- the UK's largest specialist cardiothoracic hospital, in Cambridgeshire, east England.
Papworth Hospital released a statement saying using donor lungs from smokers was not "unusual."
The statement added that the hospital had no option but to use lungs from smokers as "the number of lung transplants carried out would have been significantly lower," if they didn't.


http://edition.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/10/12/soldier.lung.cancer.transplant/?iref=24hours

I heard ealier of a similar story involving a young mother who was given the lungs of a 30+ year smoker. The lungs died within a year.


SO whats your thoughs on this? Is it wrong to use the lungs of somone like a smoker? Considering how many people dont make it past the waiting list sometimes theres no choice. Healthy organs arent available for everyone.

Would you take whats available to you?

 

[Gaige]

Personally, yes. I would take that extra year with families and loved ones over none at all. To someone who knows they are going to die, a space of time like a year can be unbelivably precious, and I think I would accept a smoker's lungs over no lungs at all. While obviously, healthy lungs and long life are more appealing, sometimes it just isn't possible. We can't afford to be picky in these situations.

 

[DeadFantasy]

Personally, yes. I would take that extra year with families and loved ones over none at all. To someone who knows they are going to die, a space of time like a year can be unbelivably precious, and I think I would accept a smoker's lungs over no lungs at all. While obviously, healthy lungs and long life are more appealing, sometimes it just isn't possible. We can't afford to be picky in these situations.

I completely agree with ya.

Better then nothing, yes?

I'd take it in a heartbeat. Knowing that I get a second chance is good enough for me. To spend that much more time with family and friends-- I mean, who wouldn't take it?

I'd just be so greatful life can be short-- don't take it for grant.

 

[*Serenity*]

I agree with all of you, the extra time would be precious to me and every moment counts.

I do, however, understand why people would not choose to do this. Getting the smokers' lungs might give false hope; family will be overjoyed at the new prospect of life which means death a year later might cause a worse impact than the person slowly wasting away in the first place. Basically delaying the inevitable.

I personally believe that even taking the smokers' lungs could allow the person a full life, not everyone who smokes dies early. So I would take that chance.

 

[Ironman]

Being a smoker myself, i don't think i would except a lung Transplant at all. I know my Smoking is Destroying my lungs, and if it eventually shatters them into a million pieces and causes me to need a transplant, then i wouldn't accept it.

I wouldn't feel right taking a set of lungs, from a smoker or not, when i know that it is my own fault that i need the Transplant, whilst somebody else needs them, i wouldn't take a chance at a life from a person who needs lungs who didn't Destroy their own.

But on the whole, I don't think it's a problem using Donor Lungs from a smoker, even if it's just a temporary Fix, it gives a person who needs a transplant the chance at a life.

 

[Bambi]

Personally, yes. I would take that extra year with families and loved ones over none at all. To someone who knows they are going to die, a space of time like a year can be unbelivably precious, and I think I would accept a smoker's lungs over no lungs at all. While obviously, healthy lungs and long life are more appealing, sometimes it just isn't possible. We can't afford to be picky in these situations.

This pretty much, but I think I'd be pretty pissed if the next person down on the waiting list got a decent set of lungs , though on a serious note, beggers cant be choosers, if I was likely to die anyway, and my quality of life -even for a year- was good then I snuff it, then yeah (quality over quantity any day). We need people to die int he first place to get their organs (which are few and far between to start with), so sitting there wishing for an organ is wishing for another human being to die, to benefit you, so I'd be greatful for whatever I got regardless.

 

[Donald Trump]

Even I have difficulty trying to come up with some against using smoker's lungs. Ideally everyone would get perfectly healthy organs, but that won't happen, in fact ruling out lungs non perfect lungs would lead to an increase in black market organs.

 

[GalaxyFlare]

A Woman is South Australia was recently given AU$250,000 to go overseas and recieve a knew lung & kidney in Asia someplace, and she was a heavy smoker to boot this to me is ridiculous unless she provides some fucking major function in S.A she should pay her own way or pay the ultimate price IMO.

As far the policy of "get what your given" I say.....No personally. But for others it depends on circumstance, if your current condition forces you to need a transplant and the hope of a better quality of life is more than a 50/50 chance and more time with your loved ones is important to you then you do what need to do right?

If you have abused your body and seek out the organs of others then you have a responsibility to change your ways and treat you new lease on life with some respect
abuse your body and you deserve no sympathy.

 

[Kandy-Sugar]

I heard ealier of a similar story involving a young mother who was given the lungs of a 30+ year smoker. The lungs died within a year.

The thing with this story though is that the woman had no idea that the lungs she was receiving were from a smoker. Apparently no one informed them of the donor having smoked for 30+ years which is really unfair because she thought that she was good to go for a few more years. =/

I think I'd take the risk and see how the organ I was receiving went. It could very well give me 10 more years of life even if it wasn't in the best condition. So yeah I guess I would take my chances.