Organ donor

[boyce]

Originally Posted by Altair

Lets be honest, the atheist doctors haven't a clue what 'life' and 'death' actually is.

Ditto that for many regular folk.

[Miss Hepburn]

I was surprised talking to the Kidney Donation folks in Manhattan that you could be 76 and donate, btw...but naturally
you have to be the same blood type!
We were not.

[Altair]

Originally Posted by boyce

Ditto that for many regular folk.

Yes, but the doctor is immersed in identifying the person as a product of the body. If you work with human bodies 24/7 and see all the relationships within it you might conclude it is all there is to being a human. Your thinking could become mechanical. Likewise, an extreme meditator may become malnourished and distanced to the point he ruins his body.

I wouldn't be surprised if the vast majority of doctors and surgeons are atheists. This will impact their conclusions and how they interpret 'life'. It might lead to people that are 'brain dead' being viewed of as truly ''dead'' (whatever that is). The atheist (mentality) is then deciding what is life and death, or what constitutes as 'quality life'. The other patient that is screaming and in pain is then viewed as to be saved with a new organ, whereas the brain dead patient, though still alive, is not responding and might just be viewed as less important.

There are assumptions throughout this practice. People cannot get rid of their beliefs concerning life and death.

[boyce]

Ignorance and prejudice is never helpful in medicine but who could we trust to draw up alternative guidelines concerning the point of death? There is no perfect system. Even spiritually knowledgeable individuals would probably find it hard to medically codify the point after which death has taken place.

Banning post mortem transplantation of organs would resolve all the issues.

[Altair]

Originally Posted by boyce

There is no perfect system.

Indeed, there isn't. Everything in this world is temporary, we are, humanity is, species' adaptations are temporary, etc. Everything only ''works'' because of specific conditions.

Originally Posted by boyce

Banning post mortem transplantation of organs would resolve all the issues.

Why would it have to be solved, boyce? People just gotta think about it and make a choice. No biggie what that choice is.
Make your choice, accept the consequence. Omnis Licitus.

[Altair]

I was just thinking...

There have been organ transplantations where they used animal organs for humans (xenotransplantation). They have used organs of baboons, chimpanzees, rabbits and pigs. Then I read that for human transplants, they may even use eyes and face!

Ethics aside, maybe one day it will be workable as a long term solution. What would it mean if someone continues to have their own heart but with the brains of say, a gorilla? Or what if you get the heart of a horse? Are you still yourself? Or are you possessed? Are there two souls in competition?

[iamthat]

Originally Posted by Altair

...What would it mean if someone continues to have their own heart but with the brains of say, a gorilla? ...

Hmmm. Reminds me of one or two people.

Peace

[Altair]

Yes, and I can think of a few more.

But jokes aside, people can develop new tastes and talents through an organ of someone else. Makes me really wonder what will be observed once there are successful long term xenotransplation examples.

[boyce]

Originally Posted by Altair

Why would it have to be solved, boyce? People just gotta think about it and make a choice.

It doesn't have to be solved but it might help those who are uncertain. I don't have any issues with status quo.