| Product: |
The NHS and the disabled |
| Date: |
22/01/02 (35 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: n/a, n/a, n/a
Disadvantages: n/a, n/a, n/a
In an ideal world there would be no waiting for replacement organs to become available. We all hear about how scientists can now grow all manner of things from cells, remember the mouse with an ear on its back? In years to come I am sure even those most opposed to such advances will be able to see the advantages to life.
While we only have the human to human donation system there is going to be priority lists. Unfortunately someone normally has to die before an organ becomes available for transplant/donation. It is because of the shortages of such donors our doctors have to decide who, if anyone is going to benefit most from its use. Clearly everyone on the waiting list has a dire need but many are not well enough, not expected to survive the operation or, in the case of some disabled people, not expected to live as long or have a much improved life than, other people.
There is no easy way for our doctors to decide who is best suited for a donation, other than by type match, and I know many would rather see all people as equal, it is not, unfortunately, as simple as that however. I do feel that it is right for our doctors to consider all the facts before deciding on a recipient of a donor organ and age, life expectancy and quality of life following donation must form a part of this. I have no doubt that every doctor hates to choose but choose they must. If it were a choice between a 10yr old child or a 90yr old man where would you place your x in the vote? Doctors have this, and all the other factors we hear of to consider and that simply can not be easy.
I am disabled, physically, and would not like to think this would be held against me if I needed a transplant but I would also want someone that could make better use of the organ to have it before me. Yes I might get another few years of life, maybe even better quality of life but it could well be that someone else would get many years of quality, how, or why, should I expect my doctor t
o put me in front of them?
All in all there is, as I say, no easy way to choose but what we have to accept is that doctors do have to choose and we must trust their judgement and accept they will consider ALL the factors.
By paying for a private transplant we are, quite possibly, preventing someone else, maybe in more urgent need, from living. Can that be right? Should organ donation be a commercial business? Should human organs be up for sale? Or should we continue to place our life in the hands of the professionals, as we have for many years? I happen to believe that doctors do not deliberately discriminate between able bodied and disabled people. I believe that they make their judgements on facts and conditions at the time the organ becomes available. It is also a fact that some of us may never be right for a transplant, it isn’t nice but it is a fact of life I am afraid. It is simply a process of priority and need.
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