Community Chat

[151949]

Is it morally right to move a person who desparately needs a liver /kidney transplant to the top of the transplant list when he is also suffering from dementia? Getting the transplant will not stop the progression of the dementia. There are hundreds of people awaiting transplants who have sound minds.

My personal opinion - if someone has dementia they should not be on the transplant list because healthy organs are wasted on a person who can never get healthy mentally but will only be progressively worse.So many people with healthy minds die before they can get a transplant.

[cherry]

Is it morally right to deny them?  They could find a cure for dementia and  the person might get well

I think everyone deserves equal treatment. When you start picking and choosing ,who is worthy of this or that, you are on a very slippery slope

[CrazyDaisy]

I am sure it is just one of the many factors that are taken into consideration concerning organ transplants.

[Ibby114]

David Cassidy is in the early stages of dementia- my step mom was in the early stages for nearly 10 years, there was still a lot of living to do.

[deepwaterdotter]

I suspect there is some form of medical protocal in place to consult when such a vital decision is to be made.  I would choose to follow that protocal.

[novamc1]

@Ibby114

I think David Cassidy has died in the last day or two.

[Noel7]

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@151949 wrote:

Is it morally right to move a person who desparately needs a liver /kidney transplant to the top of the transplant list when he is also suffering from dementia? Getting the transplant will not stop the progression of the dementia. There are hundreds of people awaiting transplants who have sound minds.

My personal opinion - if someone has dementia they should not be on the transplant list because healthy organs are wasted on a person who can never get healthy mentally but will only be progressively worse.So many people with healthy minds die before they can get a transplant.

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@151949

Dementia can progress slowly over decades.  If that person isn’t in a terminal stage, yes, go ahead with the transplant.  Kidneys are not rare.

[lulu1]

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@151949 wrote:

My personal opinion - if someone has dementia they should not be on the transplant list because healthy organs are wasted on a person who can never get healthy mentally but will only be progressively worse.So many people with healthy minds die before they can get a transplant.

Interesting you would deny a person with dementia a transplant.  For the last few years you've posted about your husband's battle with dementia.

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[Bri36]

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@151949 wrote:

Is it morally right to move a person who desparately needs a liver /kidney transplant to the top of the transplant list when he is also suffering from dementia? Getting the transplant will not stop the progression of the dementia. There are hundreds of people awaiting transplants who have sound minds.

My personal opinion - if someone has dementia they should not be on the transplant list because healthy organs are wasted on a person who can never get healthy mentally but will only be progressively worse.So many people with healthy minds die before they can get a transplant.

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Good thing you’re not in a position to be making those determinations for patients.   

There are guidelines that need to be met to have a transplant.