Support Transplantation And Organ Donation example essay topic

Organ Transplants Being assigned the subject, organ transplants, I realized very quickly that this could cover a broad area. Does this mean animal to human transplants, (there's no way I am going to get into the rights of animals on this one) artificial organ transplants, living donor transplants or partial transplants, such as bone marrow and fetal brain cells, cloning body parts to make them available for transplant or transplants from a cadaver. I decided in order to write a productive paper I would need to focus on one or two areas I have chosen human transplants as I know someone personally who has had to deal with this. Science and technology have advanced a long way since the first transplant. Limb transplants have become the newest frontier in medical transplants. Transplants are not always used to just save lives but many times transplants are done to make the quality of life better for the recipient.

"About 25 human organs can now be transplanted and the list is growing daily. The most commonly performed transplantations are the kidney, cornea, and bone marrow transplants" (The Volume Library 1034). Kidneys for transplantation may be obtained from living donors or cadavers; other organs can be obtained only from cadavers. Organs from cadavers must be obtained very soon after death; they may, however, subsequently be preserved for some hours by cooling and other procedures. Liver transplantation is technically very difficult, and the transplant must begin to function at once if the patient is to survive, since there is no satisfactory artificial liver. On the other hand, rejection is more easily prevented in a kidney transplant.

I am sure you remember the series of Frankenstein movies that were once out. In case you don't know, Dr. Frankenstein collected body parts from several different cadavers to make a super human. Many refer to organ transplantation as Dr. Frankenstein Method of saving lives. Their point being that it is ghoulish to take a body part from one person and put it in another. I feel that this is a unfair and uneducated referral to a life saving technique that is giving hope to persons who were at one time in a hopeless situation. Such was the case with Kenny Lutz as he returned from working a 12-hour shift one day.

He became ill and drove himself to the hospital only to find out that he had cardiomyopathy. There is no cure for the disease but doctors managed it for several years with medication and a pacemaker. Also a A ICD was installed in his chest. Even though he seemed to defy all the odds, his health continued to deteriorate. It became apparent that he would need a heart transplant. Doctors were telling his family it was just a matter of hours and then the news came that a donor heart had been found.

"A 32-year old man had lost his life in a tragic car accident in Indianapolis, Indiana, and his family had donated his organs. The heart was a perfect match and the transplant took place. His health improved immediately" (The Journal Gazette). Kenny and his wife Gale were here to visit last spring. He had a overnight case of anti-rejection medication and other medicines he had to take but he seemed quiet well. Before he left I had to ask if at any time he felt that other man's emotions and etc.

After all he had the heart of another man in him. He stated he was different; however, he did not feel that it was from the donor heart. He said no one could come that close to death and not be a changed man. Kenny is still doing quiet well. Heart transplantation resembles liver transplantation in that the patient's life depends on the transplant's ability to function at once.

It is a technically easier operation, but rejection is difficult to recognize early and seems even more difficult to prevent. Other human organs that have been transplanted with at least some success include the pancreas and the lungs. Lungs have been grafted most successfully when combined with the heart in a heart-and-lung transplant. Corneal transplants from cadavers have been highly successful. Rejection rates are low because the graft bed has no blood vessels but is nourished by diffusion from the tissues. Since blood carries most of the rejection factors, corneal allograft's survive indefinitely.

A big argument against transplants is religion; however, controversial to what many may say, none of the major world religions oppose organ donation. Amish, Buddhism, Catholicism, Christian Science, Greek Orthodox, Hinduism, Islam, Jehovah's Witness, Judaism, Protestantism, Mormon, and Quaker all permit, allow, and support transplantation and organ donation. Another argument against organ transplants is that the distribution of organs available for transplant is done unfairly. Many claim that the wealthy and powerful receive the organs first. One organization, known as CORE, was founded in 1977 as the Transplant Organ Procurement Foundation of Western Pennsylvania, and later known as the Pittsburgh Transplant Foundation, CORE changed to its existing name in 1992 to reflect its expanding role in the procurement field.

CORE is one of 63 federally-designated entities in the U.S. known as a non-profit organ procurement organization (OPO). Founded in 1977 as the Transplant Organ Procurement Foundation of Western Pennsylvania, and later known as the Pittsburgh Transplant Foundation, CORE changed to its existing name in 1992 to reflect its expanding role in the procurement field. Common arguments against organ donation are: 1. I do not want my body "cut-up". Donated organs, tissues and eyes are removed surgically, in an operation similar to gallbladder or appendix removal.

Normal funeral arrangements are possible. 2. My family would be expected to pay for donating my organs. A donor's family is not charged for donation.

If a family believes it has been billed incorrectly, the family immediately should contact its local organ procurement organization. 3. I cannot choose what I want donated. You may specify what you want to donate. Your wishes will be followed. 4.

If I am in an accident and the hospital knows that I want to be a donor, the doctors and nurses will not try to save my life. Physicians and nurses will do everything possible to try to save your life. In fact, the medical team treating you is separate from the transplant team. CORE is responsible for contacting the transplant team, and CORE is not notified regarding a potential donor until all lifesaving efforts have failed. The transplant team is not notified by CORE until after consent for donation has been obtained.

5. I am not the right age for donation. Organs may be donated from someone as young as newborn. There are no age limits for organ donation. The general age limit for tissue donation is 60, and for eyes, 70.6. If I do not sign a donor card, my family cannot donate organs.

Even without a donor card or donor designation on the license, families of suitable donors will be offered the opportunity to donate. 7. People are taking kidneys from travelers and then selling them. A man was in a swimming pool, and when he awakened, his liver was missing.

USE COMMON SENSE. No matter who insists these stories are true, they are not true! They are urban myths that have circulated for years, most recently on the Internet. Think about it: If it were that easy to get kidneys, 35,000 people would not be waiting for them.

Secondly, if someone's liver were missing, he would not awaken to tell anyone, because he would have bled to death. 8. Wealthy people are the only people who receive transplants. Anyone requiring a transplant is eligible for one. In fact, most major insurance companies provide coverage for heart, liver, kidney, and lung transplants. 9.

"I have a history of medical illness. You would not want anything from me. Few illnesses will eliminate someone's ability to donate; however, at the time of death, CORE will review medical and social histories to determine donor suitability on a case- by-case basis" (web). After researching and finishing this paper I have come to the conclusion that if I have to take a stance, I would have to say I am for organ transplants. It is a really hard decision but it does save lives, I must add that this is such a personal issue. I could list the pros and cons of organ transplants for five or even ten more pages and it would not change what one feels inside.

This is a decision that has to be made within. If you choose to donate, sign that drivers license. Always keep an open mind when reading of an organ transplant. As morbid as it may sound, I would rather have my organs taken from my body, after death, and passed on to keep someone else alive as to have them buried. The next person needing a heart, liver, pancreas, etc. to live another day, week, or month, may be your loved one.

Bibliography

Anonymous. "Organ Transplants". (web). Anonymous. "Organ Transplantations". The Volume Library. The Southwestern Company: 1992, 1034.
Laz zell, Terri Hughes. "Life begins anew". The Journal Gazette. 25 August 1995, 1 C.