http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/11/us/11hiv.html?_r=1&ref=health
This article shows how some health experts say HIV-infected organs may be suitable for patients who are already infected. Many people living with HIV suffer from kidney damage, either from the virus or the medication they take. Until recently, patients did not receive organ transplants because doctors were worried that their health was too compromised. Now that they can receive transplants, waiting lists for organ-donors are immeasurably long. Now, federal health officials and other experts are calling for repeal of the provision that makes it illegal for organ transplant between HIV patients. This provision was made in the late 1980s when HIV was a death sentence. Today, many people with HIV are living long enough to suffer kidney and liver problems, adding to organ demand. The CDC will be conducting research involving transplant between HIV-positive implants into HIV-positive people in order take the first step in lifting the ban.
I think this step in shortening the queue for donor organs is postive and has major potential to serve HIV patients that need transplants. The article even states that transplants involving HIV-positive donors and recipients in South Africa have been successful. This is also an efficient and resourceful way to conduct organ transplant as opposed to just wasting these potentially useful kidneys. Nevertheless, this procedure does raise the question of ethics, due to rejection issues. I believe in certain cases this would definitely be the right thing to do.
No comments:
Post a Comment