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November 14, 2004
Actually, several of them
Donor organ shortages create ethical quandary
One quandary of those waiting for a liver transplant that the story doesn't mention, at least that I can see, is that you're effectively waiting for someone to die, usually in some sort of horrible accident. But that's a cheap, cynical angle, plus everyone's heard it.
Something I didn't know is that the government picks up the bill for kidney transplants but not for liver transplants.
Posted by Mac Thomason at November 14, 2004 03:58 PM
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» Liver Transplant from Liver Transplant
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Comments
"Something I didn't know is that the government picks up the bill for kidney transplants but not for liver transplants."
Subsidizing liver transplants might encourage drinking.
Posted by: Susan at November 14, 2004 06:58 PM
And subsidizing kidney transplants doesn't? The ironic thing is that the kidney transplant subsidy is due to a previous ruling to pay for dialysis. So because there's a treatment for kidney disease, they'll pay for a kidney transplant, but not for a liver transplant, even though liver disease is much harder to treat.
Posted by: Mac Thomason at November 14, 2004 07:36 PM
Sure, alcohol takes a toll on the kidneys, but things like letting hypertension and/or diabetes go unchecked and unmedicated are more likely to cause renal failure than alcohol use alone.
Posted by: Susan at November 14, 2004 08:23 PM
But the most common reason for transplants is Hepatitis C, as another story in the News package today states. I'm a little sensitive on the matter because I have a (relatively mild) liver condition, which simple blood screenings read as Hep C. And I don't drink, and never have.
Posted by: Mac Thomason at November 14, 2004 08:34 PM
Sorry if I sounded like I was stereotying people with liver disease. It probably sounded that way because I was (I can be really enlightened some times). Also, I basically skipped the series of transplant stories today.
Posted by: Susan at November 14, 2004 09:47 PM