Transplants?

[observer]

If you were desperate for a transplant, would you accept the lungs of a heavy smoker or the liver of a heavy drinker?

[Bill]

I think the parents of this poor girl were being a very harsh in their criticism of the system that attempted to save their daughters life. By all accounts, the girl was absolutely living on borrowed time and even with the transplant the prognosis wasn?t good. They should count themselves lucky to be living in a country where such an operation is even an option.

 

Bill

[byrdy]

I agree Bill,just because someone used to be a smoker doesn't always mean their lungs useless.I used to be a very heavy smoker but give up 5 years ago.At my well man checkup 2 weeks ago i blew 600 on the lung function meter,higher than a fit young non smoker!!(& i'm only 60 minutes younger than Bill)

[wolfie]

How much air you can blow out of your lungs is relative to your height and weight amongst other things

How well your lungs deliver oxygen to your blood is far more important.

[Legion]

I too think they are being fussy...I'm a smoker and they wouldnt even get the offer of my lungs, I'm using them. ungreatful gits!

[Dizzy]

It's very sad that the transplant wasn't successfull and that the young girl sadly died from pneumonia. Whether that was a direct result of the lungs coming from a smoker and maybe not being strong enough to recover from pneumonia is questionable but even healthy lungs can be affected by viral/bacterical/fungal strains of pneumonia.

 

I can understand the parents outrage in a way though as not only have they lost their daughter but they will no doubt be thinking 'what if...' or 'maybe if we had...' or 'if only...' and 'why '

 

So sad

[inky pete]

As I understand it she died "several months" after the transplant. Unless she was very, very good at holding her breath it sounds to me like the transplant was pretty successful!

[Eagle]

I am a bit late into this one but the answer to your question Obs is "yes"

Now what was the point of your question?

[Peter T]

It's an individual's choice. If it wasn't for transplants the person dies when their number is up. I don't know anything about the case being discussed, but doubt that the NHS would do the op. if they didn't think it would work.

[observer]

The "point" bird brain is to stimulate thought = discussion = opinion, on topical issues - which I know you find difficult!

[Legion]

The "point" bird brain is to stimulate thought = discussion = opinion, on topical issues - which I know you find difficult!

 

damn...I though it was I talk you lot listen...if I knew this was a debate I may have read some of your replies.

[observer]