Man donated kidney to his wife, now he wants it back!

DreamfulSpirit · #1 01-08-2009, 02:09 AM

He wants compensation for it because now their getting a divorce....

http://news.aol.com/article/man-want...-kidney/297471

AOII Angel · #2 01-08-2009, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamfulSpirit

He wants compensation for it because now their getting a divorce....

http://news.aol.com/article/man-want...-kidney/297471

Ha! I'm going to send this article to my husband. He's been mad at me ever since I told him that he could NOT have one of my kidneys if he went on dialysis (this is all hypothetical since his renal function is normal!) I personally feel that harvesting organs from normal, healthy people is unethical. They have cadaveric donors for a reason. (And yes, I'm well aware of the benefits of live donors and living-related donors.)

ThetaPrincess24 · #3 01-08-2009, 10:24 AM

I think that is crazy! I dont think he is thinking of his kids' well-being/mental health in this situation.

MysticCat · #4 01-08-2009, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

I personally feel that harvesting organs from normal, healthy people is unethical.

Do you mind if I ask why?

AOII Angel · #5 01-08-2009, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Do you mind if I ask why?

No...I don't mind. I think that taking an organ from a normal person causes them an injury. It is a fairly dangerous procedure that has actually resulted in death for some living donors. It also brings up a lot of issues regarding whether or not someone can truly give consent freely. Many people, I'm sure, feel pressured to give up their kidneys and don't feel they can say no. Living related donors are NOT the last option as 33girl suggested. Many transplant surgeons prefer to have people get a living related donor, if possible, because those kidneys last longer than cadaveric organs. (I did rotations on transplant surgery as a surgery intern and have participated in transplants and organ harvests.)
Take my example...my husband really is mad that I won't give him a kidney! He feels like I have to let him have one since we're married, and I'm O neg so we'll probably match. I have enough knowledge and convictions to stand up to him about it, but the average person has no idea what they are giving up and that they have a right to say no.
Some people have even gone as far as having the doctor tell their family member that they were not a match because they couldn't say no to them! That is a problem!
Don't even get me started on how frequently people reject their kidneys because they don't want to take their medicine correctly. Let them get a kidney from someone who doesn't need one anymore...otherwise, they can stay on dialysis!

Essentially, I don't think your family should be an organ bank for you! Trust me, I won't be asking for any organs from my family.

MysticCat · #6 01-08-2009, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

No...I don't mind. I think that taking an organ from a normal person causes them an injury. It is a fairly dangerous procedure that has actually resulted in death for some living donors. It also brings up a lot of issues regarding whether or not someone can truly give consent freely. Many people, I'm sure, feel pressured to give up their kidneys and don't feel they can say no. . . . .

Thanks for your response. I see where you're coming from.

Can I ask you one more question? If the donor does not feel any pressure at all and fully understands the risks involved, and still makes the free choice to donate his or her kidney, would you still consider the decision to donate the kidney unethical? (Perhaps a related question is this: Is it the use of a living donor's organs that you consider unethical, the decision of a living donor to donate an organ unethical, or both?)

DaemonSeid · #7 01-08-2009, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

No...I don't mind. I think that taking an organ from a normal person causes them an injury. It is a fairly dangerous procedure that has actually resulted in death for some living donors. It also brings up a lot of issues regarding whether or not someone can truly give consent freely. Many people, I'm sure, feel pressured to give up their kidneys and don't feel they can say no. Living related donors are NOT the last option as 33girl suggested. Many transplant surgeons prefer to have people get a living related donor, if possible, because those kidneys last longer than cadaveric organs. (I did rotations on transplant surgery as a surgery intern and have participated in transplants and organ harvests.)
Take my example...my husband really is mad that I won't give him a kidney! He feels like I have to let him have one since we're married, and I'm O neg so we'll probably match. I have enough knowledge and convictions to stand up to him about it, but the average person has no idea what they are giving up and that they have a right to say no.
Some people have even gone as far as having the doctor tell their family member that they were not a match because they couldn't say no to them! That is a problem!
Don't even get me started on how frequently people reject their kidneys because they don't want to take their medicine correctly. Let them get a kidney from someone who doesn't need one anymore...otherwise, they can stay on dialysis!

Essentially, I don't think your family should be an organ bank for you! Trust me, I won't be asking for any organs from my family.

Very very valid points as I also did screenings and evaluations for donors at Univ of MD.

Many living donors that come are made to go thru extensive physical and mental evals before they can even be considered a good match for the recipient. Some of you would be surprised how many people who want to donate wind up being found with long term problems themselves and in a few cases that I saw, some donors wound up needing a donation themselves!

Believe when it's said that donating an organ is not a simple process once the decision is made that someone wants to do so!

And not only is non compliancy with meds an issue but non compliancy with lifestyle changes are an issue.

Smoking cessation
Changes in diet and so forth.

AKA_Monet · #8 01-08-2009, 05:23 PM

I think the guy is lame to want it back. There is not much he's going to get back unless he wants to do the "Bodies Exhibit" and treat the organ to hardened it.

What we are talking about is "transplant health policy"--what is it? Health wise, molecular wise, legally, mentally, etc. While kidney transplants are "relatively routine" today, the fact is we really do not understand ALL the aspects why this surgery really works. Re-routing and splicing renal artery and veins does not mean as research scientists we understand why the transplanted nephrons and glomeruli work? And do we care? Yes, because created better drugs to not have GVHD, or avoiding the need would health the sufferer better.

Maybe with stem cells? IDK?

33girl · #9 01-08-2009, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

I personally feel that harvesting organs from normal, healthy people is unethical. They have cadaveric donors for a reason. (And yes, I'm well aware of the benefits of live donors and living-related donors.)

I thought the main reason people did this (i.e. gave someone their kidney) was because the person in question had been waiting for forever and they were having problems finding a match from a deceased donor.

So I take it you gave Steel Magnolias a thumbs down, then.

srmom · #10 01-08-2009, 11:06 AM

Did he give her a gift reciept with that kidney?

I'd say that is one of those gifts (like bathing suits) that can't be returned once they're used.

Kevin · #11 01-08-2009, 11:18 AM

As someone who works in this field, I do not find this story shocking.

You'd be surprised to see what some folks think gives them leverage in a divorce trial.

I'd be surprised to see him get anything here though because organs, as far as I know, have no cash value.

sageofages · #12 01-08-2009, 11:23 AM

Isn't making a monetary demand for a transplanted organ the equivalent of selling it?

I thought selling human body parts is illegal in all states.

KSig RC · #13 01-08-2009, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sageofages

Isn't making a monetary demand for a transplanted organ the equivalent of selling it?

I thought selling human body parts is illegal in all states.

It's most certainly not the equivalent of selling it.

Think about it like this: through the Courts, we're allowed (indeed, required) to put a monetary value on a person's life in cases such as wrongful death or negligence. This is not the equivalent of selling a person - valuation is not the same as transacting.

With that said, Kevin's exactly right - it's a leverage ploy, although it may require a judicial decision on what constitutes "property" in their home state (for purposes of marriage/divorce). It's actually really interesting for nerds like me.

agzg · #14 01-08-2009, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin

I'd be surprised to see him get anything here though because organs, as far as I know, have no cash value.

Would it constitute sale of an organ, which is illegal?

MysticCat · #15 01-08-2009, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alphagamzetagam

Would it constitute sale of an organ, which is illegal?

No. It would only be a sale if he made payment a condition of the donation to begin with.

Sounds more like he's treating it as marital property that should be taken into account in any division and distribution of the couple's assets.