While we're on the topic of transplants
I got my May copy of Discover magazine. The front cover, and a major article deal with what is called a "beating-heart cadaver."
The article scared the crap out of me. I don't think I like the rules currently in place for organ donations. They now rely on a "brain-death" definition for actual death, instead of the cardiac-pulmonary definition, and now they can keep "cadavers" alive for months before harvesting organs. In fact, ine woman was pregnant when they declared her dead, but kept her alive for 107 days in order to have a live birth.
It's creepy. They say that in some cases, there is actually a sexual response even after brain death, a potential to feeling pain, and other scary things.
Transplant industry is a multibillion dollar industry--except for the donor and their family--they get paid nothing. And the family is essentially talked into giving up the departed's organs. I think that's a crock, and I think the industry needs to be investigated before I personally would allow a transplant either on me, or for me to donate to someone.
I actually probaably wouldn't be able to give. Too many medical conditions, anyhow.
