I agree with the Layperson. But to know for sure, we need pilots. Then again, it matters little to the kidnely patient who gave the organ as long as it was done willingly and donor's health was protected.
BRAVA Colleen Kelly!!!...and, yes, you do skip to the head of the list if you need a kidney.
As for pain, doctors need to be much more liberal with treating acute pain. The majority of patients don't even finish their opioid prescritions and they rarely become addicts unless they have a history of drug or alcohol abuse. And even then, it's not 100 percent risk
Donor here. Gave left kidney to an acquaintance in 2022. I wouldn't have considered it until I knew someone facing dialysis. He is an older gentleman, but couldn't imagine him spending all that time feeling shitty/hooked up to machines while I had a spare (we never fret about having just one of almost every other vital organ). I am a physician so was reassured by the data (long term health outcomes in donors same as non donors). I was worried my recipient would feel indebted to me (that "tyranny of the gift") but I do like to hear from him from time to time (just to see how he is doing). I have heard about some recipients ghosting their donors and that would have probably made me feel sad and used. Honestly, it was one of the greatest experiences of my life so far. I feel like a bad-ass. I had a few signs that I should do it (I believe in God and that I was led to this/called to it/reassured I was on the right path). I am annoyed that I cannot get disability insurance now (changed jobs a year after the surgery). One of the comments talked about pain management, and I will say they did a really bad job with that. I did not get opiates and was in agony a few times (but it's pain, it passes, not a deal breaker). I did mention it to the transplant surgeon at my follow up, but I get the pendulum swing after we addicted hundreds of thousands of people. I am O negative so "universal donor" but if I ever need a kidney (or other organ), I get bonus points (so I've been told), and that is a little insurance policy I guess, though I suspect something else will kill me someday.
Some hospitals in Canada will tell the recipient that a family member / friend is incompatible if they don't want to donate. This way if anyone volunteers because of pressure but doesn't want to, then the relationship doesn't get strained. "I would have done it, but histocompatibility... "
The legislation should be tweaked so that any kidney donation is incentivized. If you doubled the rate of directed donations that would get twenty times more kidneys to patients than doubling the rate of undirected donations. Amplify what people are already more inclined to do. You could say that increasing the rate is easier off of a low baseline. That's true but the baseline is tiny in both cases so why not incentivize everything.
Here’s a twist I’m willing to bet most never think about. When I was at the peak of my opiate addiction I put myself on a bone marrow transplant list. Would have been willing to donate a kidney, too. I didn’t do it because I was a good, altruistic human. I did it because I knew I’d get more opioids AND look like a superhero. Addiction. Addict logic. Horrible to know that I ever felt that way, embarrassing to admit it. But for some reason I felt compelled to share here. After 25 years sober I can unequivocally say I probably wouldn’t put myself thru it unless it was family. Then it would be a no brainer, and opioids would not be used.
Right on...donors should be rewarded for their sacrifice. Those who don't want to accept material thanks should pass it along to a charity. I think the refundable tax credfit proposal that I linked to is the most efficient way to do it.
I disguised the individuals. Also, the NYT article was about donation after cardiac death. Living donation is the polar opposite: no one mistakes you for a soon-to-be-deceased. That NYT article -- I cannot tell where tabloid ends and serious reporting on risk begins (that said, the cases reported were horrifying, should NEVER have happened, and will turn people off from deceased donation, for a while at least) -- is even MORE reason for increasing the number of living donors. As for the alcohol-consuming lady, if we had more donors, we could better afford to lose more kidneys to bad risks like her.
I agree with the Layperson. But to know for sure, we need pilots. Then again, it matters little to the kidnely patient who gave the organ as long as it was done willingly and donor's health was protected.
Also, goes to show you how much alleged altruism really is coerced if doctors need to be giving out medical alibis in the first place.
Yes, it's called a medical alibi. One of the few noble lies in medicine that seem justified. Thanks, Amethyst
BRAVA Colleen Kelly!!!...and, yes, you do skip to the head of the list if you need a kidney.
As for pain, doctors need to be much more liberal with treating acute pain. The majority of patients don't even finish their opioid prescritions and they rarely become addicts unless they have a history of drug or alcohol abuse. And even then, it's not 100 percent risk
Donor here. Gave left kidney to an acquaintance in 2022. I wouldn't have considered it until I knew someone facing dialysis. He is an older gentleman, but couldn't imagine him spending all that time feeling shitty/hooked up to machines while I had a spare (we never fret about having just one of almost every other vital organ). I am a physician so was reassured by the data (long term health outcomes in donors same as non donors). I was worried my recipient would feel indebted to me (that "tyranny of the gift") but I do like to hear from him from time to time (just to see how he is doing). I have heard about some recipients ghosting their donors and that would have probably made me feel sad and used. Honestly, it was one of the greatest experiences of my life so far. I feel like a bad-ass. I had a few signs that I should do it (I believe in God and that I was led to this/called to it/reassured I was on the right path). I am annoyed that I cannot get disability insurance now (changed jobs a year after the surgery). One of the comments talked about pain management, and I will say they did a really bad job with that. I did not get opiates and was in agony a few times (but it's pain, it passes, not a deal breaker). I did mention it to the transplant surgeon at my follow up, but I get the pendulum swing after we addicted hundreds of thousands of people. I am O negative so "universal donor" but if I ever need a kidney (or other organ), I get bonus points (so I've been told), and that is a little insurance policy I guess, though I suspect something else will kill me someday.
Some hospitals in Canada will tell the recipient that a family member / friend is incompatible if they don't want to donate. This way if anyone volunteers because of pressure but doesn't want to, then the relationship doesn't get strained. "I would have done it, but histocompatibility... "
The legislation should be tweaked so that any kidney donation is incentivized. If you doubled the rate of directed donations that would get twenty times more kidneys to patients than doubling the rate of undirected donations. Amplify what people are already more inclined to do. You could say that increasing the rate is easier off of a low baseline. That's true but the baseline is tiny in both cases so why not incentivize everything.
thank you!...if you have other articles handy, do send to my gmail, slsatel@gmail.com
Mouse heart beats again thanks to human stem cells | New Scientist https://share.google/KJWLbENRuvm1n4wDS
As an addictyion psychiatrist, I am not surprised. But thrilled you are doing well x 25 years!
Here’s a twist I’m willing to bet most never think about. When I was at the peak of my opiate addiction I put myself on a bone marrow transplant list. Would have been willing to donate a kidney, too. I didn’t do it because I was a good, altruistic human. I did it because I knew I’d get more opioids AND look like a superhero. Addiction. Addict logic. Horrible to know that I ever felt that way, embarrassing to admit it. But for some reason I felt compelled to share here. After 25 years sober I can unequivocally say I probably wouldn’t put myself thru it unless it was family. Then it would be a no brainer, and opioids would not be used.
Right on...donors should be rewarded for their sacrifice. Those who don't want to accept material thanks should pass it along to a charity. I think the refundable tax credfit proposal that I linked to is the most efficient way to do it.
Tell us more about surgeon opposition...Every node of resistance should be made transparent. thanks!
I hope to God you are both right! The sooner the better. Thanks for writing.
I disguised the individuals. Also, the NYT article was about donation after cardiac death. Living donation is the polar opposite: no one mistakes you for a soon-to-be-deceased. That NYT article -- I cannot tell where tabloid ends and serious reporting on risk begins (that said, the cases reported were horrifying, should NEVER have happened, and will turn people off from deceased donation, for a while at least) -- is even MORE reason for increasing the number of living donors. As for the alcohol-consuming lady, if we had more donors, we could better afford to lose more kidneys to bad risks like her.
Please could you direct me to The NYT article you are referring to? I must have missed it.
Thank you.
kind of you, Julia!