Organ Transplant at 22: Two Tales

Written by colleen
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04
Dec
2009

More than 40 years ago, Dr. Christian Barnard performed the world’s first human heart transplant; it was a sensational feat at the time, and his work received international media attention. Today, organ transplants have become fairly commonplace, and the newsworthy aspect of an organ transplant is not so much how the operation went as it is who received the all too scarce organ. The stories of two individuals, both 22 years old, help to highlight some of the drama.

Who wins the organ lottery?

In spring 2009, 22-year old Gary Reinbach landed in a hospital in England, dying of cirrhosis of the liver. His only chance at life: an organ transplant. His challenge: Mr. Reinbach was an alcoholic. Rules established by Britain’s health officials stipulated that, until he could demonstrate over a period of months that he had “recovered,” his alcoholism made him ineligible receive a new liver. He died in July.

At roughly the same time in California, singer Natalie Cole made her own plea for a new kidney. She explained on national television that the hepatitis C she contracted as a result of her addiction to drugs had destroyed both of her kidneys. The list of people waiting for a new kidney was a very long one, so she decided to appeal directly to the public. Within weeks, a dying fan, 22 years old, offered a kidney to Miss Cole. She went back on tour very soon after her transplant surgery.

Organ trafficking

The end-of-life stories of two young people, living an ocean apart from each other, illustrate how national transplant systems work, and don’t work, for patients. The competition to receive a donated organ is fierce, perhaps because the stakes are high: thousands of would-be recipients are critically ill and there are too few organs to go around. And that fact makes possible a much grimmer side of organ transplants.

In the US, while an individual may freely give an organ to a particular recipient, it is a violation of Federal law to buy or sell an organ for “valuable consideration.” In China, India, Pakistan and a number of other nations, organs are sold for cash every day; sometimes the government turns a blind eye to the transaction, sometimes it brokers the deal. Jane’s Information Group reports that Chinese officials remove and sell the organs of executed prisoners. In poorer nations of the world, individuals report that they have been forced to sell an organ to settle debts; for some, the transaction represents a choice between selling a child or giving up a kidney.

 

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written by Jenn, December 04, 2009
If someone has destroyed their organs due to abusing their body via booze or drugs they should be at the very bottom of any transplant list if they are on it at all. Ms. Cole is a talented person but it seems unfair that she got an organ while someone else who needs one and who has done nothing to destroy their organs could and has died. Any one can give an organ to someone if that is what they want. My Uncle has a friend destroyed his liver (via drinking) someone in family offered to give him part of their liver only reason he got one.
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written by Robin, December 04, 2009
What a blessing that fan’s kidney was a match for Natalie smilies/smiley.gif
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written by Martin , December 05, 2009
Clearly organs are a hot tamale and extremely valuable on the black market. If your short on cash people just sell one of your kidneys after all you only need one to live anyways. You can give part of your liver as well since I think the liver regrows. smilies/smiley.gif

"Chinese officials remove and sell the organs of executed prisoners."
What a wonderful idea this people no longer need their organs may as well let someone have life from the prisoners demise.
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written by Annie , December 05, 2009
I hope that Natalie is at least supporting organ transplantation facilities via donations and advocating organ donation in generally.
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written by L.J , December 07, 2009
Apparently Garys last words were “Please help me, Mum, I don’t want to die”. It also said he would have had to be recovered for “6months” that hardly seems sufficient time it took more then 6months for him to destroy his liver. It would take more then that long for someone to truly recover from the addiction. Another man got a transplant and returned to drinking and he died. This rules are only fair. Someone else may be on the list that did not do something to damage their organ they should get first dibs.

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busy Last Updated on 02 December 2009