19 year old's family challenge transplant rules

[Ter]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8219252.stm

Family challenge transplant rules
Gareth Anderson is critically ill after his liver failed

The family of a teenager critically ill with liver failure has said it is going to mount a legal challenge to get him on the waiting list for a transplant.
Gareth Anderson, 19, from Newtownards became ill after binge drinking with friends earlier this month.
Mr Anderson cannot be considered for organ transplant because rules stipulate patients need to be alcohol-free for six months beforehand.
His father, Brian, said he was facing a race against time to save his life.
"I'm dealing with a timebomb now, I've basically two weeks to save Gareth," he said.
Mr Anderson Snr said the six-month policy on liver transplants should apply to older patients with chronic alcoholism and not a teenager who has never before needed medical treatment for a drink-related illness.
"I have to take this to the courts, what else can I do?" he said.
"In my opinion Gareth doesn't fit in with the six-month policy."
His son was transferred from the Ulster Hospital to Kings College Hospital in London at the weekend.
World-renowned liver specialist, Professor Roger Williams, who treated Belfast-born footballer George Best, has also become involved in the debate, claiming the guidelines should be loosened in circumstances such as those faced by the teenager.
A spokesman for Kings College Hospital said the teenager was in a stable condition.

Obviously the rules exist for a reason but he's 19, surely there must have been some pre-existing condition there. Should they make an exception here, given that he won't actually survive for the six-months required?

Any thoughts?

[eddy_purpus]

2 weeks to save him ? =o
Holy guacamole!

=o

[Player989random]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8219252.stm



Obviously the rules exist for a reason but he's 19, surely there must have been some pre-existing condition there. Should they make an exception here, given that he won't actually survive for the six-months required?

Any thoughts?

If there is a pre-existing condition he was unaware of, ok.

He knew about it, too bad, he's dead.

[Yojimbo]

If there is a pre-existing condition he was unaware of, ok.

He knew about it, too bad, he's dead.

Agreed. He was enough of an idiot to drink until he got liver failure. Let him die and save that liver for somebody who will get somewhere in life.

So what are you going to say when he is dead?

Piss off?

"The gene pool is safer. "

[removeduser_487563287433]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8219252.stm



Obviously the rules exist for a reason but he's 19, surely there must have been some pre-existing condition there. Should they make an exception here, given that he won't actually survive for the six-months required?

Any thoughts?

I think there's somebody in need of a liver that didn't get to that point by self-harm. Next.

[humvee2800]

Ferrets does that same person need it in two weeks to live ?

Fact is most people with liver failure get that by some version of self harm to their liver.

I hate it when people act like because of a decision like binge drink a teen makes, that it means he deserves to die. News flash, binge drinking is a huge problem with teens and at some point most teens will do it, is it right ? no, does it deserve death ? no.

[removeduser_487563287433]

Ferrets does that same person need it in two weeks to live ?

Almost certainly. Organ shortages are acute.

[Каие]

Is it just me or is the concept of personal responsibility been completely abandoned in the modern day? Somethign for nothign culture. It's times like this where I make the jump from centrist to the right. When people refuse to own up to the consequences of their actions.


It's not exactly an unreasonable policy. Livers a hard to come by... he's a binge drinker... there are others who are not binge drinkers and need a liver... hence the binge drinker must wait in line.. or go elsewhere where there is an abundance of livers.. I hear India has a healthy black market operation going on. Or pay for it privately, if there is one available. Otherwise.. there is nothing that can be done. Extra livers cannot be magicked out of thin air, and we can hardly go around stealing them from mortuaries. Hence the need for a strict policy to make sure they are fairly distributed to those in greatest need, not brought on by their own foolishness.

I feel sorry for him, since I have this pathetically soft heart... but you know... tough decisions have to be made.

[Angrychris]

Yeah he should own up to drinking alot of alcohol in a short period of time, he deserve death for sure.

[LoZz]

the problem we have in the UK that they dont have so much of in the usa or europe is so, so few people donate livers, or any organ for that matter. there really is a shortage of livers and of course this begs the question "Who gets the liver". Now i have been on the nightshift all weekend and i heard this guys story on the radio and i must say he has my sympathy. His father said he isnt an alcoholic and does not drink regulary BUT his father is likly to say anything to get him on the list. The fairest way to "ration" these rare organs is to say that those who self inflict their wounds go 2nd place to those who threw no fault of there own need them. Is it 100% fair? No of course not, He does'nt deserve to die, It isnt fair at all that in all liklyhood he will. But the simple fact is, no matter what you argue, there are not enough donations.

I was listening to the radio and they said the waiting list for liver transplants in the uk is only 280 people long. But they only perform 250(ish) transplants a year because thats how shockingly low donations are in the UK. If this kid has only got 2 weeks to live then whats the point in putting him on the list? Like i said its not fair but to give him a liver would be to deny a more deserveing person life.

In a way I think the rule makes sence. Whats the point in giving a new liver to someone who may well just drink that one to death? Whats the point in giving it to alcoholics when it could go to someone who wont ruin it?

[Dunecat]

Might I recommend the black market?

[Yorkshireman]

It makes me wonder if that proposed plan they had for mandatory organ donation unless you opt out would make a difference ? But I know theres a lot of opposition to this for many reasons.

[LoZz]

It makes me wonder if that proposed plan they had for mandatory organ donation unless you opt out would make a difference ? But I know theres a lot of opposition to this for many reasons.

it would make the WORLD of difference. Most people dont donate because

1. They just cant be bothered to sign up, as appose to not wanting to.
2. There family, who are rather upset after there death refuse to have him cut up and given to other people.

The numbers of people who actually object to having there own organs taken are very few. The opt out should of been forced threw, just to fix the lazyness by people.

As i said, acording to the radio only 250 operations happen each year. Dispite the ability if there where more livers to carry out many more. Think how many 10,000's of people die each year in this country, if not 100,000's. All we can manage is 250 livers?!?

[Yorkshireman]

I'd have no problem with it personally, when your dead your dead, but there was a lot of opposition from religious groups etc. They have the system in other European countries such as Spain.

[LoZz]

I'd have no problem with it personally, when your dead your dead, but there was a lot of opposition from religious groups etc. They have the system in other European countries such as Spain.

yep. Spain a country of 40 million (20 million less then the uk) has 3 times the amount of liver donations per year because of it. Acording to the doctor on the radio. Like i said the liver transplant list is only 280 people long, we could wipe this list out, and lads like this wouldnt have to die if it wasnt for people being a tad selfish.

[Maverick]

There's a million dollar idea: buy livers and sell them to the Irish.

[Del Valle]

Just so everybody knows, there are diseases that do significant damage to the liver without any help from the person in question.

[Big War Bird]

Wow how much to you have to drink to trash a liver by age 19? Or did he do it in one night?

Alcohol needs a new warning label, "Consumption of this beverage voids your NHS internal organ replacement guarantee for a period of no less than six months."

[Admiral Piett]

Do any of you really know how long and how much alcohol it takes to corrode and damage your liver? Unless the guy had alcohol posioning (which is not always you're own fault) or has been overdosing acetaminophen constantly for years, there's absolutely no way his liver condition was caused by his own actions. If he binge drank for a little bit and its causing terminal liver failure within weeks, there's absolutely a pre-existing condition with his liver.

[Big War Bird]

Do any of you really know how long and how much alcohol it takes to corrode and damage your liver? Unless the guy had alcohol posioning (which is not always you're own fault) or has been overdosing acetaminophen constantly for years, there's absolutely no way his liver condition was caused by his own actions. If he binge drank for a little bit and its causing terminal liver failure within weeks, there's absolutely a pre-existing condition with his liver.

That's what I'm thinking, there had to be something wrong beforehand and the drinking set it off. The article just isn't clear.