Organ Donors be careful?
 

Heard this....

I've heard that if yuou wind up in a hospital and youre in critical condition, they will make less of an effort to save you if youre an organ donor since they make more money off the transplant procedures...

I don't believe in this since most of the patients that need the organs are never in the same place as the donor. That would mean the hospital wouldnt benifit from the harvested organ.

Anyone have any thoughts on this?
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0RADOA...42705424512795

Can't organs be preserved over reasonably long periods of time?

(like the time it takes to fly it to another hospital?)

I know people working for airlines that have special procedures for organ shipping. Things like hearts are flown all across europe.

In addition you can't replace an organ on the spot as the patient needs some preparation before the surgery. (I don't know what timeframe is attached to prep.)
So no, you don't need to be in the same hospital for organ donation.

On the other hand: if they are keen on the money why don't they let you die regardless of the organ donation??
If they let you die, they spend less money == money saved...

Not a lot of surgeons would go along with that I'm sure (and hopefull)

Here in the USA we have to pay for everything that the insurance companies refuse to, either way the hospitals are getting paid for whatever kind of work they do to you.

Re: Organ Donors be careful?
 

from the FAQ of Organdonor.gov :
If I sign a donor card, will it affect the quality of medical care I receive at the hospital?
No! Every effort is made to save your life before donation is considered.

Are there any costs to my family for donation?
The donor’s family does not pay for the cost of the organ donation. All costs related to donation of organs and tissues are paid by the recipient, usually through insurance, Medicare or Medicaid.

Can I sell my organs?
No! The National Organ Transplant Act (Public Law 98-507) makes it ILLEGAL to sell human organs and tissues. Violators are subject to fines and imprisonment. Among the reasons for this rule is the concern of Congress that buying and selling of organs might lead to inequitable access to donor organs with the wealthy having an unfair advantage

...
So from what I understand, it would be illegal for surgeons to make a profit off your organs.

Ok, point taken... I should've thought about that more...

Combining that with the FAQ answer: "the receiver pays for the costs", is it true that no extra incentive is given for extracting/preserving an organ? I.E. no profit is to be made?

I would think that would be how it's set up in order to prevent abuse. At least I hope that's how it's set up...

http://www.statesman.com/asection/co...18072271337609

read that. might change your opinion on organ donation.

Wow, the paranoia maybe justified now. Now the question I have to ask myself, as a concerned human being is: How can I profit from this ? :)

Of course there is going to be money made. The thing is there are guidelines that "should" be followed by these companies. Noone does anything for free and medical procedures are expensive. Money has to be recouped and medical staff paid. No profit is directly made from the donated organ (its not bought and sold) but profit is made from the transplant surgery.

Well...that alien organ harvesting picture is disturbing. Cool!

I'd rather have illicit profit made from my otherwise useless tissue and save a life than let someone die because I don't want anyone making money.

When my father had cancer, I met many doctors, and I have no reason to believe that they had any motivation other than giving their patients the best possible care and treatment.

Thats a really scary thought mind.