New York Proposes Rapid Organ Recovery Ambulance

Better post on this initiative in New York to expand opportunities for organ donations before all my friends start forwarding it to me in e-mails.

Also, please read the valuable Q&A sidebar that gives further detail on the RORA crew’s procedures. Sounds like many rules are in place to prevent even the appearance of a conflict of interest, so that no potential donor is rushed into the organ-preserving procedures before actually being declared dead.

Naturally, as an organ recipient and next-of-kin to two people who have expressed wishes to be organ donors, I think this is a good way to expand the donor opportunity to all those who wish to give their organs at death. It gives the families time ... so that if their loved one had always wanted to be a donor, their organs are preserved for transplantation. If not, then nothing is lost; the body is not "invaded." If it is true, as the article states, that a potential 22,000 donors could be considered under these guidelines, think what that would mean for the long transplant waiting lists.

Let’s look at what this does NOT mean:
• Paramedics will not be harvesting organs for transplant in the field (read the sidebar “Preserving the Right to Donate Organs” describing what procedures the RORA crew would do)
• The deceased will not become donors against the wishes of their families
• The next step is not the Soylent Green factory. Seriously, commenters should always remember to engage brain before typing!

Comments

[Dave Undis]

Over half of the 99,000 Americans on the national transplant waiting list will die before they get a transplant. Most of these deaths are needless. Americans bury or cremate about 20,000 transplantable organs every year. Over 6,000 of our neighbors suffer and die needlessly every year as a result.

There is a simple way to put a big dent in the organ shortage -- give organs first to people who have agreed to donate their own organs when they die.

Giving organs first to organ donors will convince more people to register as organ donors. It will also make the organ allocation system fairer. People who aren't willing to share the gift of life should go to the back of the waiting list as long as there is a shortage of organs.

Anyone who wants to donate their organs to others who have agreed to donate theirs can join LifeSharers. LifeSharers is a non-profit network of organ donors who agree to offer their organs first to other organ donors when they die. Membership is free at www.lifesharers.org or by calling 1-888-ORGAN88. There is no age limit, parents can enroll their minor children, and no one is excluded due to any pre-existing medical condition.

[Donald]

Hey, where are you. Doing well and just maybe very busy? Please post something.

Don

[ambulance equipment]

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