It’s a situation you might expect to come across in a bad-taste comedy sketch: heart transplant patient – tubes everywhere, chest opened up – on operating table; surgeon examining grisly-looking donated organ.
“Don’t quite know what I can do with this,” he mutters. “Wasn’t quite what I was expecting. Still, I’ll do my best…”
Of course, this would never happen in real life, would it? Erm, well…it might not be that far from the truth with the admission this week from NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) that, because of a severe shortage, more organs from higher risk donors – for example elderly patients plus those with histories of cancer and drug abuse – are being used than ever before.
Surgeons, who are apparently resigned to this ‘do or die’ situation, point out that three out of the 10,000 patients on the UK’s transplant waiting list die each day – a comforting thought, eh.
None of this is the sort of thing prospective organ recipients want to read just before trundling off to the operating theatre for a transplant. The fact that you might receive a ‘second rate’ body part is, in itself, a very scary thought – but, hey, if it’s your only chance of survival, it might be something you are prepared to ignore, blot out, if you like.
It all presents a real quandary for medical director of NHSBT Professor James Neuberger, who is quoted as saying: “There is no doubt that if we had more donors, we could be a lot more selective about those used.
“In some cases this is completely safe but we’re seeing organs from higher risk donors used in order to meet the growing need for transplantation.” Here, I must say that I find his use of the words ‘in some cases’ very disturbing for obvious reasons.
Tim Statham, of the National Kidney Federation, stresses that it is vital (absolutely, Tim) that recipients are informed of the condition of any organ they receive. Most, he adds, would accept an organ that was ‘not optimal’ rather than die.
Perhaps the time is now right to push new legislation through parliament that when a person dies, healthy organs are removed as a matter of standard procedure and banked for future transplant operations, thus removing the need for permission to be sought.
Not a nice thought for the squeamish, granted – but in practice a law that would probably solve NHSBT’s supply/demand problem, and provide patients needing lifesaving transplant operations with a bit more ‘quality control’ assurance.
Sounds like something Secretary of State for Health Andy Burnham should – if you’ll excuse the expression –‘get his teeth into.
GORDON’S GAG
As the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq War hears evidence of how Tony Blair allegedly misled the public over weapons of mass destruction – plus his various meetings/dialogues with US President George Bush – there seems to be more than a bit of political skullduggery on the home front.
For good old Tone’s successor as Prime Minister (that’s Gordon Brown, in case the name has slipped from your memory – as it probably will, after the next General Election!) has been busy giving his Whitehall lackies – sorry, I mean civil servants – the means (nine grounds in all) to block the release of ‘secret’ documents relating to the conflict.
I wonder what he’s so worried about. More damning evidence, maybe? Surely not! However, we may never know if Gordon gets his way.
Don’t you just hope that inquiry chairman Sir John Chilcot challenges the PM’s actions in the name of democracy?
LOVE ACTION
From Iraq to troubled Afghanistan where some of our servicewomen may have been taking the message ‘make love not war’ a little bit too seriously by engaging in a spot of hot action over the past few months!
Yep, ten of them are pregnant and have had to be flown away from the front line because strict military regulations ban expectant women from battle duty.
Before anyone jumps to conclusions, I must stress that it is not clear if any of the pregnancies resulted from relationships with colleagues – but be assured that the ten mums-to-be face a grilling to establish if they have breached sexual conduct rules (there is a strict ‘no touching policy’), according to a Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesman.
Anyway, whatever the outcome, no-one – not even the MoD’s top brass – should ever be surprised at the result of throwing a bunch of men and women together during a so-called war. Things, erm, just tend to happen – just ask Adam and Eve!
ROCK ON SILVIO
One European premier who seems to keep politics firmly in his pants is Italian stallion (allegedly!) Silvio Berlusconi, who has just been named ‘rock star of the year’ by his country’s Rolling Stone magazine in tribute to his well-publicised lifestyle.
Says editor Carlo Antonelli: “This year the choice was unanimous, for his obvious merits due to a lifestyle for which the words ‘rock ’n’ roll’ fall short. Rod Stewart, Brian Jones, Keith Richards in their prime were schoolboys compared to him.”
Well, it’s just as well someone is prepared to honour the 73-year-old premier, as I don’t reckon he’d ever get anything for his politics! The word ‘pants’ springs to mind again!
Have a great weekend – but spare a thought for bottom-of-the-Premiership-heap Pompey supporters (not to mention the team) as they prepare for tomorrow’s (Saturday) home fixture against Man U!
