Organ Transplant waiting list - Who gets a heart

[warrior1]

http://organdonor.gov/transplantation/matching_process.htm

Who Gets a Heart?
The average national waiting time for a heart is 230 days. (UNOS/OPTN Annual Report 2003) People waiting for a heart transplant are assigned a status code, which indicates how urgently they need a heart. Because thoracic organs such as the heart and lungs can only survive outside the body for 4 to 6 hours (Partnering With Your Transplant Team (PDF)Exit Disclaimer, page 10), they are given first to people who live near the place where the donor is hospitalized. If no one near the donor is a match for the heart, the transplant team starts searching farther away through a series of zones in a specific sequence. See the OPTN/UNOS Allocation of Thoracic Organs Policy (PDF) Exit Disclaimer for details.

Who can get a new heart?

These are not absolute guidelines, since each transplant center is allowed to set its own rules for who is eligible. If you don't qualify, read this.

* You must be less than 69 years old when put on the waiting list
* You must show no evidence of active infections or cancer at time of transplant
* You must show no evidence of disease affecting arterial circulation to your brain or legs (significant underlying disease in major arteries lowers chances of long-term survival after transplant)
* Results of your physical evaluation tests must be considered adequate
* You must be psychologically "suitable"
* You must fully understand the risks and requirements for taking medications
* You must be committed to actively participating in the rehab process after transplant
* You must not have smoked or used alcohol for at least 3 months before being put on the transplant waiting list, and you must be trusted not to smoke or drink afterward
* You cannot be overweight
* You must not have dental work in progress
* Your health insurance must verify that your heart transplant costs will be covered!

[Maru Kitteh]

1. These are not absolute guidelines, since each transplant center is allowed to set its own rules

Translation: Dick will get a nice fresh heart in his tissue type before anyone else will.

[bdamomma]

2. these three Cheney failed on

*You must be committed to actively participating in the rehab process after transplant.

* You must not have smoked or used alcohol for at least 3 months before being put on the transplant waiting list, and you must be trusted not to smoke or drink afterward

* You cannot be overweight

[Maru Kitteh]

4. It won't matter.

[Brother Buzz]

6. Don't forget the arterial circulation to the legs, too

Remember, he had surgery in 2005 to correct the aneurysm in an artery in his leg.

[Cirque du So-What]

7. You think the Dick of Death is subject to rules governing the hoi polloi?

I wouldn't be surprised to hear that he's trying to purchase a sixth 'deferment' from his inevitable meet-up with the Grim Reaper. Failing that, I wouldn't be surprised to learn of negotiations with shady characters in undisclosed locations for a young, healthy human heart for a transplant performed in another undisclosed location.

[SheilaT]

3. The best part is

that your health insurance must cover costs.

"Cadillac" plan, anyone?

[wryter2000]

5. Thanks

I can't improve on your post, so I can only thank you for the wonderful tuxedo cat in your sig line. :hi: :)

[spanone]

8. if he wants it, cheney will get lance armstrongs heart

[Bitwit1234]

9. Cheney will buy one and the person's family will sell.

It is as simple as that.

[EC]

10. Chaney will get a heart if he wants one

but he's been living without so long already.




Just a thought, the way Republicans are complaining about the estate tax maybe Chaney had better take advantage of the loop-hole he and Bush left. You know the one where if you die this year - no tax....I certainly wouldn't want to be a member of a cold heartless family when I have to be plugged in every night to survive....I'd not trust the rest of the family....

[AnArmyVeteran]

11. Only those who have a heart should be allowed to get a heart transplant.

Cheney doesn't have an ounce of heart in his being. He is void of empathy or compassion for others. For that reason he should not be eligible to get a new heart. Can you imagine if tragedy struck a very liberal person who was killed in a car accident and how his family would feel if their loved one's heart ended up in the evil Cheney. That would equate to having two tragedies, especially if they wanted a real, caring, worthy human being to get the heart.