ORGAN TRANSPLANTS Edmonds School Dist. #15 Health

JOHN Q Do you believe that it is fair of the hospital to deny putting Michael’s name on the list because of money issues? Why or why not? Organ transplants are expensive. Do you agree with the statement that money spent on organ transplant surgery could be better spent on preventive measures? Why or why not? What other ethical problems might be involved in in the issue of organ transplants?

What can be transplanted? Corneas – any age – any condition Skin – Age Lungs - Newborn to 65 Heart – Newborn to 65 Valves – 38 weeks - 55 Liver – Newborn to 65 Bones – Cartilage/Ligaments – Veins – Newborn to 65 Kidneys – Newborn to 65 Pancreas – Newborn to 65 Intestines – Newborn to 65

What cannot be transplanted? Any organ that has an infection or comes from a person that is an IV drug user or has HIV/AIDS, hepatitis or viral meningitis NOTE: Vascular organs (heart, lungs kidneys, liver and pancreas) may only be used if the donating person’s heart is still beating. May be brain dead or kept alive on a ventilator. Eyes, skin, bone, connective tissues and heart valves can be used even though a donor’s heart is not beating.

STATISTICS Currently there are 93,009 wait list candidates About 3,700 transplant candidates are added to the national waiting list each month. (67,802 kidney, 17,119 liver, 1,749 pancreas, 2,420 kidney/pancreas, 232 intestine, 2,843 heart, 2,873 lung, 146 heart/lung) An average of 18 people die each day waiting for an organ transplant.

Now You Decide Kidney project PDF

How do you become an organ donor?

Sources: n_donation.htm#b