Todd Need[ed] a Liver

Mr. Christmas Lights writes "According to this CNN article, Todd Krampitz's liver transplant operation was a success. What is significant about this is how he used a multi-media campaign to get a donor - this included billboards stating 'I need a Liver. Please help Save my Life' that all pointed to his web site at ToddNeedsALiver.com where you can read more. Certainly a novel use of the World Wide Web."

Comments

i'm glad he's doing well but

[polished look 2]

does this mean that the person who is able to finance a media blitz will be first to receive a liver or other major organ?

Re:i'm glad he's doing well but

[Anonymous Coward]

In fact, yes.

Read the CNN article in which one of the people who works with/for the transplant list group cites that this sets a questionable precident by bypassing standard processes and channels and establishes an unfair and unlevel playing field.

Re:i'm glad he's doing well but

[forgoil]

Hopefully, in the future, we'll simply grow any organs that would be needed. That is unless some idiots stop this particular brand of research, but I hope there are countries who decides that this is still a good idea. Probably not from the kindness of their hearts, but out of lust for money.

Re:i'm glad he's doing well but

[I Be Hatin']

In theory, the sickest person that is compatable is supposed to get the organ. In practice, being rich/famous probably gets you moved up a few places, witness Mickey Mantle and David Crosby, who both got liver's soon after their cases were wildly publicized. I think on the flip side, these very public cases help everyone, because more organs get donated.

I think what would help even more would be if people like Mickey Mantle would die from not getting preferential treatment, just like thousands of normal people do every year. That way, the public would see that there is a need for livers, and not foolishly believe that everyone who needs a liver gets one within a few days.

Re:i'm glad he's doing well but

[phritz]

Um ... my only superstition about this is that if you sell your liver when you die, then only rich people with liver disease will get livers. Poor people with liver disease would have to go way into debt to purchase a free market liver ... or die.

Unbelievable that it's legal

[AxelBoldt]

I find it utterly unbelievable that relatives of organ donors can designate a recipient. Only medical criteria should matter. Otherwise, people with the money/wit to start a public relations campaign will be more likely to get an organ. And all that without the approval of the donor! I know that I would have hated to find my liver in this guy.

Re:Unbelievable that it's legal

[dex22]

I'm sorry you feel that way.

This guy had two possible doners, critically ill in hospital. instead of hoping one dies, this guy was asking for public prayer and support for these people and their families. Now you might think he sucks because he asked for something and got it, but this man had a choice of Do This Or Die.

I would be proud to have my liver in this guy. He respects human life.

Note: He didn't upset the "level playing field" either. He was given low priority for a liver because of the nature of his illness. It's fairer to say he evened the playing field up a little.

Re:Unbelievable that it's legal

[andrews]

If I want to sell a kidney to the highest bidder I should be able to. If I'm dead, my will should be able to have my organs be auctioned off to benefit my family, or any other beneficiary.

I own my body, and it's my property to do with as I like in life or death. Any law denying me this natural right is immoral.

Buying Life?

[JollyRogerX]

Isn't everyone supposed to have an equal chance at getting an organ? Remember Mickey Mantle who pickeled his liver with many decades of hard alcohol? He got a liver ahead of many people then promptly died a few months later. I guess this just proves yet again that some people are more equal that others (namely those with money).

Re:Illegal?

[LiquidCoooled]

Your right, I don't think he can personally "buy" an organ, but by him driving a campaign forward and raising awareness of the issues,they will hopefully allow more people to become donars. More donars means more organs, and hopefully the list will get shorter.

It does not say on his website exactly how he became the recipient, but I find it hard to believe it came from a direct donation specifically to him.

I believe simply his age and other attributes made him a better donar recipient than (say) a 98 year old guy with other chronic problems, but I may be wrong.

From the "Donatealife" website, they say the following:


While donated organs and tissue are shared at the national level, the laws that govern donation vary from state to state. Therefore, it is important for you to know what you can do to ensure your decision to be a donor is carried out.

He has certainly raised awareness, and I wish him the best of luck in the (now much brighter) future!

Jumping the queue?

[InternationalCow]

In a perfect world, there would be new organs for all who needed them. In the imperfect world that we have to live in, there are waiting lists. Todd jumped the queue, the donor's liver would otherwise have gone to the number one on the list. One life saved at the expense, possibly, of another. I wish Todd and his family all the best, but I have nagging doubts about the ethicality of this thing. The precedent it sets is potentially nasty. It reminds one of drowning men climbing on each other's shoulders to get to the surface, drowning those beneath them.

This is the United States...

[robochan]

...where you also can't buy a baby

but you can buy the sperm, you can buy the egg,
and you can rent the uterus.