NYC will prep possible organ donors prior to consent

Thu, 08 May 2008 06:59:56 -0400

Here's a program bound to raise some hackles, despite the potential for helping patients waiting for donor organs. New York City has announced plans to dispatch the country's first ambulance designed to preserve the newly dead so that families have time to consider organ donations. What makes it controversial is that the crews would perform preservation procedures on the corpse without consent, just enough to keep it viable, until the family decided whether or not to give consent for organ removal/donation. The team wouldn't take any organs unless that consent was given.

The Rapid Organ Recovery Ambulance program, which has federal funding, was actually created because of complaints from families who were angry that the loved one couldn't donate as per his or her wishes, because they died outside of a hospital. In fact, about 22,000 people a year die from cardiac arrest outside of a hospital and aren't considered for organ donation. Emergency departments and transplant teams across the country are watching carefully to see how this scheme works out.

To learn more about the program (including what procedures are performed by the organ recovery team):

- read this USA Today article

Related Articles:
Surgeon charged with hastening death to get organs
U of Pittsburgh tries ED donor organ program
Study: Rural patients get fewer organ transplants
National organ transplant system flawed?

CA struggles with transplant costs for illegal immigrants

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 06:59:54 -0400

Without a doubt, transplants are an extremely costly business. The question is, can states and counties afford to provide them for illegal immigrants in addition to their own citizens? In California, they're grappling with this issue, one thrown in to particular relief given the high volume of immigrants and the demand for high-prestige institutions in big cities there.

California handles the issue of medical coverage for the indigent--including illegal aliens--by providing state-funded healthcare for children until they're 21. At that point, the county where the person lives is supposed to pick up the tab. The thing is, some counties can't afford the tab for procedures like a liver transplant, which costs almost $490,000 for the transplant itself and the first year of follow-up, not to mention $30,000 annually in medications.

Meanwhile, given that there's often many more people seeking transplants than there are donor organs, some critics are saying that the state should not allow illegal immigrants to receive such organs ahead of citizens. It's a highly charged political issue, and one that isn't likely to be resolved anytime soon, observers say.

To learn more about California's transplant concerns:
- read this Los Angeles Times article

Related Articles:
Uninsured patient dies after transplant is denied. Report
Kaiser fined $2M for transplant problems. Report
National organ transplant system flawed? Report
U of Pittsburgh tries ED donor organ program. Report

Organ Transplant System

NYC will prep possible organ donors prior to consent

CA struggles with transplant costs for illegal immigrants