Smoker's Donor Lungs Kill

[Deako]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-20762437

This is unbelieveable. If you needed a lung transplant, would you want them if they were from a heavy smoker given the choice?

A death intended for someone else. This story is shocking imo.

Cue all the smokers defending their filthy habbit. 

[andrewparker]

My wife (she's a Producer for BBC Current Affairs) did a programme last year on donor organs. The fact is you just don't know what you're getting.

[tony_danza]

If they made organ donation an opt-out, rather than opt-in, they could at least be selective.

[MC71]

If they made organ donation an opt-out, rather than opt-in, they could at least be selective.

Spot on! 

Thats a terrible story, the poor girl.

What are your options though? Refuse and wait (and hope) for a nice healthy lung to turn up. In my ignorance of such matters I assumed that all organs were (for the wont of a better word) vetted?

I've no idea on the length of the waiting list for such organs, it may be days and your choices prevalent but what if this is not the case?? Is a used, sh*ty lung better than your dying lung or no lung at all.

Crappy choice.

[Baz300]

I'm a smoker and I agree it is a disgusting habit!
I really want to make a serious effort to stop very soon!

I don't think smokers lungs should be donated to anyone in the same way that an alchaholics liver should be donated to anyone.

There should be a questionnaire when you agree to be an organ donor to say if you drink or smoke or even take drugs.

[rich83]

As above. It should be opt out

[edd666999]

I'm a smoker and I agree it is a disgusting habit!
I really want to make a serious effort to stop very soon!

I don't think smokers lungs should be donated to anyone in the same way that an alchaholics liver should be donated to anyone.

There should be a questionnaire when you agree to be an organ donor to say if you drink or smoke or even take drugs.

No time like the present! Prolong your life, quit now. 

[Tamiyoman]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-20762437


Cue all the smokers defending their filthy habbit. 

Stopped smoking 2 months ago 

[MAT ED30]

i stopped about 7+ years ago will never smoke again

[Baz300]

I keep trying and fail as soon as I am at work.

I'm off for almost 2 weeks from Friday so will be making a serious attempt from this weekend.

[rich83]

Surly is there is any evidence of 'substance abuse' on organs they should be binned... Such terrible news.

[Tamiyoman]

I keep trying and fail as soon as I am at work.

I'm off for almost 2 weeks from Friday so will be making a serious attempt from this weekend.

I am using the smoke relief E Cig for a few months until I no longer miss holding a Cig, plus it is keeping me off the sweets 

[Deako]

Surly is there is any evidence of 'substance abuse' on organs they should be binned... Such terrible news.

You would think they would scan for tumors or evidence in advance? Also, surely the lungs were black when they removed them.

The simple fact is, they should have informed her at the time the donor was found and advised her accordingly that they were out of a smoker and the risks involved. Now the poor girl has lost her life due to someone elses habitual addiction. Its totally tragic and avoidable. Cystic fibrosis is really nasty, and im sure she just wanted to be able to breath on her own, but at the expence of contracting cancer and 16 months later dying.

What i also want to know is after a serious lung transplant why the poor girl wasnt given regular scans.

[stealthwolf]

Something seems amiss.

1. She lived 16 months after the transplant. She may well have died earlier from complications of cystic fibrosis.
2. "Heavy" smoker - define heavy.
3. Donor could easily have lied or thought would be rejected if stated they smoked. Or no one knew till afterwards.
4. If the lungs were in such a poor condition, why did the transplant take place? Unless it wasn't obvious at the time of the procedure.
5. "Four in 10 lung transplants involve organs taken from a smoker" - and how many involve lung tissue?

I feel we're not getting the full picture of what actually happened.

Also, how many of you are donors?