ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION Can anyone name any organs that are transplanted? -heart -kidney -lungs -liver -pancreas -bone marrow -corneal material in eye Where do these organs come from? People who have died Donors who are related to the patient Donors who are unknown to the patient Aborted or still-born babies

Copy down facts from below 1) There are 7500 people on the British transplant waiting list (only half of them can expect to receive a transplant) 2) The number of organ donations is decreasing. Why might this be? better road safety ( cars have become safer due to better design) better medical treatment 3) There is no definite age limit for organ donation. The condition of the organ is more important than the age. 4) According to a survey carried out by the British Kidney Patient Association, 70% of British adults were willing to have their organs donated but very few signed up for a donor card. 5) 10-15% of patients die before an organ becomes available.

You will be reading about four patients who are waiting for a kidney transplant. One kidney has become available, and all of the patients’ immune systems would accept this kidney equally well. Spend five minutes to silently read the cases and get acquainted with the four patients. Write this question into jotters. Which person do you think should receive a kidney transplant & why?

Now use the case studies to identify the criteria you believe should be used for allocating kidneys for transplantation and decide who should receive the kidney. What criteria would you use in deciding who got a transplant? Value in community Rich Earning potential Needed by their families Young Old Beautiful

Those listed are often how we judge priority not necessarily how the medical profession decides on who is most in need. Suggest some advantages and disadvantages of the current UK donor system. List these in your jotter. The main advantage is that organ donation is a gift so lots of people really do want to do it so sign the donor register. The main disadvantage is that lots of organs are lost because people don’t sign the register and doctors don’t want to cause an additional upset for relatives at a time when their loved one might be dying.

What other types of transplantation have you heard of in the news? ANIMAL (organs taken from animals & used for humans) Name the most commonly heard of? Mouse with ear

XENOTRANSPLANTATION Why do you think this might cause concern for some people?  Treatment of animals  Mixing animal & human material  Ethical issues

Advantages of using animals:  Patients will never again need to die waiting for a donor organ  The problem of rejection could be removed because there would always be suitable organs Disadvantages of using animals:  The animal cannot give consent for the use of its organs  The animals would have to be kept in very unnatural conditions ( sterile)  Risk of disease

BLOOD TRANSFUSION (giving blood) -problem for Jehovah’s Witnesses What do you think a religious person’s view would be on organ transplantation? ( I’ll do what my religion tells me to do)

 Christians tend to support organ transplants as it is considered an act of giving and is another example of helping someone. ‘Loving your neighbour’.

EXTENSION QUESTIONS Should donating organs after your death be made compulsory for your relatives? Give reasons for your answer. Do you think carrying a donor card should be made compulsory? Give reasons for your answer. Should breeding pigs for the purpose of human heart transplants alone be allowed or should it be banned? Give reasons for your answer. Is the quality of human life more important than animal welfare? Give reasons for your answer.

China denies death-row organ sale China executed at least 1,770 people in 2005 China has denied a BBC report that organs taken from executed prisoners are sold for transplant. Foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said such organs could be transplanted but the use was "very cautious". Mr Qin said: "The sales of organs are prohibited, [donating organs] must have the consent of the donor himself." The undercover BBC report said one hospital confirmed it could provide a liver for £50,000 ($94,400), and it could come from an executed prisoner. Concerned health administrative departments deal with those operations in strict accordance with law Qin Gang, Foreign ministry spokesman Send us your views AFP news agency quoted Mr Qin as telling reporters that death- row prisoners had to provide written consent. The donation must also be approved by provincial health officials and the provincial high court, he said. "Concerned health administrative departments deal with those operations in strict accordance with the law," Mr Qin said. 'Present to society'

The undercover investigation by the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes said that organs from death row inmates were being sold to foreigners who needed transplants. He visited No 1 Central Hospital in Tianjin,seeking a liver for his sick father. Officials there told him that a matching liver could be available in three weeks. One official said that the prisoners volunteered to give their organs as a "present to society". He said there was currently an organ surplus because of an increase in executions ahead of the 1 October National Day. China executes more prisoners than any other country in the world. In 2005, at least 1,770 people were executed, although true figures were believed to be much higher, a report by human rights group Amnesty International said. In April 2006, top British transplant surgeons condemned the death-row transplant practice as unacceptable and a breach of human rights. But the No 1 Central Hospital carried out 600 liver transplants last year, our correspondent says, and the organ transplant industry has become big business.

DEATH ROW ORGANS FOR SALE! Why does Amnesty International object to the Chinese Government removing organs from prisoners? ANIMAL TO HUMAN TRANSPLANTS HALTED! What are the drawbacks of Xenotransplantation as mentioned in this article? LIFE-SAVING PIG ORGANS IN 5 YEARS! Why is it necessary for scientists to carry out these trials involving pig organ transplants?

ORGANS TAKEN FROM BABIES! (Alder Hey Children’s Hospital scandal) What might the parents be feeling? Betrayed Disappointed Abused Think back to the people in the articles. Has anyone’s opinion changed?

RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE “I would not sell my organs as I would be taking advantage of someone who is in need” “I have no problem with animals being used for transplants as long as they do not suffer” “I would donate my organs as I am willing to take the risk that my own life may become more difficult. At least I’m helping someone else” “I would donate my organs after I die as I would be helping someone else”

QUESTIONS 1. Do you agree with Xenotransplantation? Give reasons for your answer. 2. Do you think that some people should receive transplants more than others? Explain your answer. 3. What do you think counts as a ‘good quality of life’? Discuss 4. ‘We need to re-educate people about organ donation then we could solve the problem of the shortage of donors’. Do you agree?