Willing Transfer of Biological Tissues - Essay Example

Organ Transplant Organ Transplant Organ donation is defined as the willingly transfer of biological tissues or organs of the human body from either a dead or living person to a living recipient in need of the organ. A surgical procedure is engaged in the harvest of the organs following an examination and determination based on the history of the donor in medical and social fields for transplantation suitability (Thaler, 1). These procedures are called allotransplants whereas that of transplantation of animal organs into human bodies is referred to as xenotransplantation. Consent in donation is determined by two main methods namely; ‘opt in’ (those donors who have explicitly consented to being donors) and ‘opt out’ (those who have not refused to be donors). In the United States, over 100,000 people are in need of an organ transplant leading to a crisis. On an average scale, the United States performs 30,000 organ transplants per annum with lack of organ donor related deaths rating above 6,000 people per annum averaging to 19 people daily. Medical examiners through the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act of 1987 were allowed to whether organs from cadavers would be harvested and used in transplants. In the past, a reduction in the need for organs was believed to be achievable through presumed consent. New state laws are trying to ease the complexity of donation and many states in the United States are adopting them as Rob Stein of the Washington Post is quoted; “State legislatures are rewriting legislation governing organ donations in one of the most ambitious initiatives in at least 20 years to alleviate the chronic shortage of kidneys, livers and other body parts, an effort that some doctors and ethicists fear tilts too far toward allowing organs to be taken”. The most fundamental restriction to consider in organ donation is the amount of time between death and retrieval of the organ. Such organs like heart, lungs, kidney and pancreas deteriorate quickly after circulation system in the body ceases hence there are situations that are accepted for donations i.e. the donor dies while in life support ventilator equipment, the medical condition and history of the donor and age restrictions when it comes to tissues. Many body parts, tissues and organs can be donated. A typical example is a heart transplant that can help those suffering heart failure including newborns. Liver transplants can treat different conditions like cirrhosis or liver cancer that lead to liver failure. A kidney transplant could be a recommendation for those diagnosed with chronic end stage renal diseases or otherwise known as severe kidney failure (Thaler, 1). Lung transplants are aimed at restoring those with severe lung diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis and emphysema can also occur. Pancreatic transplants can be done to patient with insulin – dependent type I diabetes while intestine transplants are done on patients diagnosed with life threatening diseases of the intestine. Skin transplant also known as skin grafting can treat severe burns, extensive wounding and loss of skin through infection. Heart valve transplants are meant to treat malfunctioning valves caused by infections, birth defects and aging; and tendons that are recommended in patients without muscle function and due to injury of nerves or tendons being damaged. Caplan and Daniel (100) reveal that before receiving an organ transplant, a recipient is placed on a waiting list of the United Network for Organ Sharing, but before getting the name on the list, a number of extensive tests are carried out with the recipient. This evaluation is carried out by the transplant team that includes a transplant surgeon, transplant hepatologist (a doctor specializing in liver treatment), transplant nurses, social worker, and a psychiatrist or psychologist. Additional members to the team may include a dietitian, a chaplain, and anesthesiologist. The evaluations include: psychological and social evaluation where psychology and social issues involved in organ transplant like stress, financial issues, family support , and others are addressed; blood tests where samples are tested to determine their compatibility and selection of a good donor and assess the recipient’s priority on the donor list while quashing the possibility of donor organ rejection; and diagnostic tests that assess the recipient’s liver and overall health status and they may include x-rays, ultrasound procedures, liver biopsy, and dental examinations with additional tests for women including Pap test, gynecology evaluation, and a mammogram tests (Balint and Shelton, 48). The team then considers all this information in determining eligibility for transplantation then one is put on the list with those in urgent need for transplant being given the highest priorities when a donor liver becomes available. The average waiting time for an adult is 149 days and 86 days for children. When a donor is available, you are notified to come to the hospital immediately where the procedure is explained to you and you can ask questions then you are asked to consent and give your permission for the procedure to be carried by signing a form. For planned living transplants, one fasts for eight hours before the operation while in case of a cadaver transplant one fasts as soon as s/he is notified of the availability of the organ. A sedative may be administered prior to the operation to help one relax. After the surgery, one stay in the hospital for a period between seven to fourteen days and during the stay one may be on IV drips and will be continually monitored. The charges for the transplant may range up to $577,100 (Thaler, 1). Getting a kidney transplant is extremely complex and requires a kidney and a team of professional medics (Caplan and Daniel, 99). Waiting time for a kidney is 3-5 years, and after one is informed that a kidney is available for him/her, the patient has to get to the hospital as safely and safely. The patient is required to bring a certain list of things so as to ensure smooth and quick flow of things including list of drugs for allergies, information about health insurance, current list of medications and a change of clothing. It is important for a patient to stop eating at this time since it is required that the stomach should be empty when surgery begins. On arrival at the hospital, it is vital for the patient to undertake a blood test, chest x-ray, EKG and a physical exam. The examination will determine whether he/she will be prepared for the transplant (Stein, 1). Cases that involve postponing of the surgery and the patient has to be sent back home is when he/she develops an infection or a medical problem that would cause problems during surgery and also when the kidney being donated is in a bad shape, and there is reason to believe its poor functionality. When the surgery has to continue, the patient has to be prepared for surgery (Orentlicher, 295). Hairs on the abdomen and chest are shaved; administration of an enema or laxative is done to prevent constipation by cleaning the intestines, and an insertion of the intravenous line for the supply of medicine and prevention of dehydration. The patient will be administered with a sedative for relaxation before the surgery, and a general anaesthesia will be administered to the patient so as to remain asleep during surgery. Once asleep, the surgeon will make an incision above the groin and the kidney placed in the lower abdomen. After surgery patients are taken to ICUs or acute care unit and put under medical observation until the anesthesia wears off. During recovery, the patient may expect some pain and discomfort; food and medication delivery through IV lines, insertion of a catheter for draining urine from the bladder and in some situations dialysis may be used to remove excess fluids. The transplant can range up to $262,900. References Caplan, Arthur, and Daniel, Coelho. (1999). “The Ethics of Organ Transplants: The Current Debate.” New York: Prometheus Books, 1999. Pp. 98-132. Thaler, Richard. "Opting in vs. Opting Out". The New York Times. 26 Sep. 2009. Web. 12 Apr 2013. Orentlicher, David. “Presumed Consent to Organ Donation: Its Rise and Fall in The United States.” 01 Jan. 2009. Rutgers Law Review, 61(2), pp. 295. Stein, Rob. "A Third of Patients On The Transplant List Are Not Eligible". The Washington Post. 22 Mar. 2008. Web. 12 Apr. 2013. Balint, John and Shelton, Wayne. “The Ethics of Organ Transportation.” New York: Elsevier Science, (07 Ed.), 2001. Pp. 45-78. Read More