Can you donate a vital organ?

[deryk]

So I watched a movie recently that led me wondering about the possibility of killing yourself in order to donate a vital organ.

Let’s say that John’s wife needs a heart transplant quick but no donor is available.
John is a match, but obviously still alive. Could John walk into the hospital that his wife is staying in, pin a note to his chest that says, “Do not resuscitate. Please donate my heart to my wife, Jane Smith, in room 473”, and end his life through some quick means?

The exact situation isn’t really important, and obviously John will be dead so he couldn’t be “charged” with anything. But I’m more wondering if the hospital would comply with your wishes. Would they actually take your heart and donate it to the person you specified?

[PurpleClogs]

Docs have taken an oath to do no harm. So no, the hospital would not allow it.

[Batistuta]

@PurpleClogs

Docs have taken an oath to do no harm. So no, the hospital would not allow it.

But nothing would stop John from shooting himself in the head so that his heart is up for grabs, right?

The only problem would be making sure that the heart gets to the right person, as I understand it.

[robert_columbia]

I think you can donate one or more of your vital organs to the Aperture Science Self-Esteem Fund for Girls.

[Son_of_a_Rich]

Wouldn’t the organ be spoiled by the time the (afaik) mandatory autopsy was performed?

[deryk]

@Batistuta

But nothing would stop John from shooting himself in the head so that his heart is up for grabs, right?

The only problem would be making sure that the heart gets to the right person, as I understand it.

Yeah, even if they did take the heart, would they actually give it to his wife? Or would they just give it to whoever was next on the donor list despite instructions to give it to his wife?

[Ornery_Bob]

My WAG would be they would not follow your wishes because to do so would encourage other people to do the same thing.

[Telemark]

@deryk

Yeah, even if they did take the heart, would they actually give it to his wife? Or would they just give it to whoever was next on the donor list despite instructions to give it to his wife?

Directed donation is accepted - and has occurred with hearts.

The policy of the national Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN), operated by United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) under federal contract, recognizes directed donation as long as the agencies involved take steps to verify the medical suitability of the organ offer for the specified recipient. The Federal regulation that guides the OPTN (the OPTN Final Rule) expressly allows directed donation to a named individual.

Past instances of directed donation that have resulted in media coverage include a daughter-to-father heart transplant and a heart transplant from a church member to the church’s pastor.

[John_DiFool]

A boy once killed himself so that the girl he loved could get one of his organs…

[Batistuta]

@John_DiFool

A boy once killed himself so that the girl he loved could get one of his organs…

The girl I love can get one my organs any t…

Sorry, I’ll leave

(In all seriousness, thanks to Telemark for the good link)

[Iggy]

Beyond committing suicide… there is such a thing as a living heart donor.

Persons in need of a lung transplantation have occasionally be transplanted with both heart and lungs - seem the surgery is easier(? IANAD). If their heart was suitable it can then be used to transplant to another person. No reason that hearty donation couldn’t be a directed donation.

[MeanOldLady]

@John_DiFool

A boy once killed himself so that the girl he loved could get one of his organs…

Did your aunt share this story in photo form with you on Facebook?