# Should a parent's reluctance to donate an organ to one's ill child be reason to lose custody?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-parents-reluctance-to-donate-an-organ-to-ones-ill-child-be-reason-to-lose-custody/549856>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [August 10, 2010, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-parents-reluctance-to-donate-an-organ-to-ones-ill-child-be-reason-to-lose-custody/549856 "2010-08-10T18:42:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-parents-reluctance-to-donate-an-organ-to-ones-ill-child-be-reason-to-lose-custody/549856/41 "2010-08-11T17:29:53Z")

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I think there were valid points all around, but I doubt that a family court would change custody arrangements because of this. Perhaps the donating parent might be granted _more_ custody, but I doubt that “primary” custody would be changed.

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**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-parents-reluctance-to-donate-an-organ-to-ones-ill-child-be-reason-to-lose-custody/549856/42 "2010-08-12T02:20:16Z")

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I voted for “more info”. That’s because I couldn’t vote for the second option. I think the custody suit has no merit. But I don’t agree that Pat’s argument was “rational and wise”. I found it somewhat manipulative and self-serving.

In addition, since the immunological problems involved are significant for the donee even in the best cases, it’s unwise to go with a poorer match. Yes, if I were Pat (I’m male), I’d donate part of my liver.

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**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-parents-reluctance-to-donate-an-organ-to-ones-ill-child-be-reason-to-lose-custody/549856/43 "2010-08-12T02:45:26Z")

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> [@Anaamika](#):
>
> > [@scifisam2009](#):
> >
> > ‘Which of your parents do you want to die?’ 😃
> 
> I know you jest, but of course I meant “Which parent do you want to stay with?”

It sounded like you were saying the kid should have some say in which parent donates.

Kids should have a say in which parent they stay with, but that can sometimes be putting too much of a burden on the kid.

Skald, I missed where you said alternate holidays.

I’ve enjoyed playing along, but this is getting too much into ridiculous hypothetical territory even for me.

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