Unbelievable selfishness

[Zil]

I read <a href=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61400-2003Feb24.html>this</a> article today and I can't believe that these people got not one, but TWO sets of organs for their child to live and they don't want to donate her organs to help someone else. Granted, their child died (because of a ridiculous error), but so did someone else's loved one so that their child could have a chance.

Un - frickin' - believable.

[Pinnacle]

I heard about this too, and thought it was odd. I would like to believe that they had a really good reason, but I have no idea what it may have been.

[GokuSS2]

Her organs were useless after all the meds. The Doctors even said this.

[The Computer Valet]

I can imagine them being quite ... ahmmm ... mis-trusting of anything the doctors or hospital say to them. This might -- might -- color their desire to do anything except sue them.

I dunno. Just a thought.

[NooNoo]

Zil, I really think before making that statement, you should read the article again.

According to Mahoney, Jesica's mother asked doctors about donating the girl's new heart and lungs as well as other organs. She was told the heart and lungs could not be reused and the kidneys and liver were ruined from being on life support machines for too long.

Other organs and tissues were so saturated with medications and anti-rejection drugs that they also would not be reusable, Mahoney said.

"By the time the doctors got around to telling the family that they may be able to use the corneas of Jesica's eyes," Mahoney said, "the family had been put through the worst ordeal a family could face.

And since there was a horrendous mix up with blood typing, there will be an investigation of which an autopsy will be an important part.

[paraflyer]

##Warning: Non-Politically-Correct Rant Mode ON##

OK, I'm looking to be flamed for this, but who do you think is going to pick up the tab for all this? Regardless of potential lawsuits....That's right, the taxpayers!

Can you believe this? This family pays a human-smuggler $5,000 to get into this country. They play on the sympathies of Americans to collect donations sufficient to cover the cost of the first operation. The hospital picks up the cost of the second operation – a cost that will be passed on to the taxpayers and to other patients. They give this girl two hearts and a couple of lungs that could have been transplanted into law-abiding citizens or residents.

##N-P-C Rant Mode OFF##

Let the flaming begin.....

[Stalemate]

Not a flame as such, but I know that personally, if I were given the choice between seeing my child die and the illegal possibility of her survival...

I'm a very logical man. I would make the logical choice and take the consequences.

[paraflyer]

I like your logic, however it is my opinion that far too many show up in the U.S. expecting handouts....call it a personal problem, but I'm just tired of seeing almost half my paycheck go to the government just to be given away.

Now, if I actually had a CHOICE in the matter, perhaps my outlook would be different.

This country's doomed, Socialism is creeping in, and nobody seems to want to stop it...

[meatwad]

I have no problem with the parents doing everything they did to save their daughter. If it were my kid, I'd do whatever it took so that he or she could live.

I do blame the hospital for doing the operation in the first place. The girl was here illegally, which means if the hospital wished to do the operation as a goodwill gesture, she should have at least been put at the end of the recipient list. Now wether or not she was, I don't know. But if she was given any favortism for any reason, then that is just plain wrong.

[Darkstar]

It was a stupid mistake, yes, but they did try to fix it, possibly at the cost of the life of a true American child. I sincerely hope the family doesn't get rich from this or we're gonna have even more people bringing their sick kids here by the boatload with nothing to lose. My insurance payments are ridiculous enough because so many doctors malpractice insurance is even more outrageous.

Oh no, I sound like a selfish replublican...kill me now.

[Cleetus]

Don't even get the cleetus started on his theory of insurance.

[Stalemate]

Originally posted by paraflyer
...but I'm just tired of seeing almost half my paycheck go to the government just to be given away...

...This country's doomed, Socialism is creeping in, and nobody seems to want to stop it...

And just imagine, I live in Canada, in a province where the healthcare is downright dismal and close to 60% of my income (income tax and other taxes all together) goes to support a government which seems to be voluntarily steering away from everything the population holds important. If you thought the US was going socialistic...

[+Daemon+]

[underfunded]

I typically try NOT to get involved in discussions like this but I can't help it this time. If I was the childs parent I would have done the same exact thing. HOWEVER, I do not believe the hospital should have done the operation if there was a legitimate AMERICAN waiting for the organs. They are ILLEGAL to this country and should not have gotten the transfer if there was someone already waiting. I also do believe that (after all is done) the family should be deported and not allowed back. They do not pay our taxes and probably are not goingto pay any of the medical bills.

I know I sound cold and heartless but there are plenty of people from foreign countries that come to the US legally and who are contributing members of our society. I applaud those people for wanting to become a member of our society.

[meatwad]

I know I sound cold and heartless but there are plenty of people from foreign countries that come to the US legally and who are contributing members of our society. I applaud those people for wanting to become a member of our society.

I don't see anything cold hearted about that.