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Recently released figures show that one in four liver transplants go to people who have damaged their livers due to alcoholism. For The One Show, Paddy O'Connell has been looking at whether the UK's organ transplant system needs to be changed to give lower priority to those that "only have themselves to blame". In the film Paddy met George Best's surgeon - Prof Nigel Heaton. Nigel told Paddy that he believes that everyone on the transplant list should be treated equally and be given one chance at a new life. Eunice Booker does not agree. Eunice's daughter died in 2006 - and her organs were donated to help others. Eunice told Paddy that alcoholics should have lower priority on the transplant list. The film closed with Nigel saying that it's "important that the public supports transplantation and organ donation rises to the level we see in other countries, because there are so many people we could offer this effective form of treatment to". More information
Should alcoholics receive liver transplants? Has your life been transformed by an organ transplant? Share your views and experiences.
Should alcoholics receive liver transplants?
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Comments
I object to the comparison between previous alcoholics being refused a liver transplant and diabetics being refused a kidney transplant on the basis that their illness was caused by overeating.
It's inappropriate to lump all diabetics into one category. Diabetes melitis could be caused by infection, genetic predisposition etc. It is very offensive for a 'GP' to misinform the One Show viewers as happened this evening!
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Hi my name is Holly Shaw, I am 21 from Warrington and I recently received a kidney transplant. I am currently campaigning through the Battlefront project on Channel 4. through my Gift of Life campaign I am organising a Donor Day on April 7th to conincide with world health day to hopefully encourage more people to sign up to the Organ Donor register!
I have been given the greatest gift of all - the gift of life, and I intend to make the most of it and live life to the full. I think people who get a second chance should not waste it by abusing their precious gift.
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Hi, May please make an apeal on behalf of diabetics,
please ask your resident doctor to point out that diabetes is caused by many this other than over eating.
I have been diabetic since I was 25, I am now 65 and I have never been Obese!!
greyrae
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Our daughter died in circumstances that prevented her organs being used for transplant, which we know was her greatest wish. When appeals are made for organ donation, is should be made very clear, that organs can only be taken under limited causes of death. This would inform the public, just why the need to donate is so important.
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I agree wholeheartedly with the bloggers who disagree with the doctor's assertion that diabetes is caused by obesity. I have type 2 diabetes and need a kidney transplant. I am over 6 feet tall and weigh just over 10st. The link between diabetes and obesity should not be given as a foregone conclusion by doctors - or indeed Diabetes UK.
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No. Not when other people who have not inflicted damage on themselves die as a result "they should come first".
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I am proud to say that I carry a donor card for any organ they may want, and in fact, have donated my entire body to medical science on the basis that if I am dead I won't need it!! I can't place conditions on any of this, and I am curious as to how conditions can be placed on organ donations. After all I thought time was of the essence and adding conditions makes the whole system just that bit harder to administrate I would have thought. And, anyway, an alchoholic is also a human being which, in my book, makes him or her just the same as any other receipient.
Sonnerz
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I was pleased to see the ex alcoholic who had a liver transplant, and changed his life style, and now is tea total, every one deserves a chance, I'm sure his family are as grateful as he appears to be, I wish him all the very best.
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P.S. I have carried a donor card since 1974, and in more recent times I am on the donor register, although I may be too old at age 70yrs.
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Why doesn't the government introduce an opt out card system.It would save an awful lot of trauma at the time of demise and those awaiting transplants would obviously benefit.
As far as giving transplants to self abusers,though this practise may seem abhorrent to most,the national health service is there for all and therefore it would be a retrograde step to start treating patients according to having lived an "approved" life style
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