Hacker News Reader

Comment by DoreenMichele | Hacker News Reader

Some people have organs no one in their right mind would want. For example: You have a genetic disorder.

So, I wonder how stuff like that factors in. That doesn't appear to be addressed.

If you don't trust doctors to choose safe organs you probably shouldn't trust them to cut you open and try to put the organ in you either.

I have a genetic disorder. That's why it occurs to me, though I edited it out because I get a lot of flak for "talking too much about myself" and then when I edit out stuff like that, I get replies like this one that seem to think it's some sort of ugly thing to say rather than genuine curiosity rooted in a smidgen of relevant information/experience.

I looked into signing up to be a bone marrow donor when my corporate employer was giving some kind of incentive. I don't qualify. Period.

You cannot tell by looking at me that my DNA is miscoded but it significantly impacts organ function, and not in a good way. My ID card doesn't state I have a genetic disorder.

Doctors test organs before using them. Obviously. Regardless of genetic disorders, the donor might have a disease that would kill the already-very-unhealthy-because-they-need-a-new-organ patient. They also test for compatibility with the patient. You can't just stick any organ in any person.

Genetic disorders among donora is not a legitimate concern here.

A quick google indicates they test for certain infections (in the US), not genetic disorders:

https://www.cdc.gov/transplantsafety/protecting-patient/scre...

It just so happens people with my condition receive a lot of organ transplants and the organs they receive then don't have the genetic defect. Not exactly a cure, but I'm pretty darn sure it would run the other way and if someone got one if my organs, they would have my genetic disorder in that organ. And they would likely not be happy campers.

So I doubt your statement is entirely accurate.

Edit: I will add that genetic testing takes time and organs aren't viable for transplant for very long. Transplant happens pretty quickly following death of the donor, so genetic testing is unlikely to enter the mix anytime soon, I think.

I guess you do have some medical info on your condition, don’t you? They do check that and will exclude you in this case.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1125622/

> On 7 February surgeon James Jaggers had almost completed the operation when he learnt that the organs came from a donor with type A blood, incompatible with Jesica's type O. The story became front page news. Jesica was kept on life support systems while a second transplant was sought—and, astonishingly, found. Despite the second transplant, Jesica died from irreversible brain damage on 22 February.

Quite the testing they did there.

Taking a single error and suggesting it's evidence of a wider problem is a fun game. Now compare how many transplants happen every day to how often this sort of mistake occurs.

Humans are fallible and mistakes happen. It's a tragedy of course, but it is not evidence of a widespread problem.

Indeed. The fact it made front page news suggests it’s a rare occurrence, compared to say, traffic accidents.

They’re supposed to. A good friend just died of hepatitis that came free with his liver, in the U.K. - and ironically, his father died of liver cancer brought on by hepatitis last year, that he was given with a blood transfusion in the 80’s.

The U.K. does not have a good track record here.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contaminated_blood_scandal_i...

See medical malpractice: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_malpractice

As I understand it, donor organs are carefully vetted for such things among others before they are made available for a patient - this information would presumably be on a person's medical history and therefore available for checking in advance of the transplant.

It doesn’t need to be addressed in this specific change because you could have already signed up to be a donor. They test when it’s used, not when (primary) permission is given.

I guess it depends on the nature of the disorder but if it is something that can cause problems for the recipients, it might be good to confirm with a doctor beforehand and opt-out, if advised. That indeed doesn't catch cases where a person doesn't know if they have a genetic disorder and their organs are used for transplant without testing for genetic disorders.

“Excluded groups”

Yes, I read that. It goes on to explain that:

Those excluded will be people under 18, those who lack the mental capacity to understand the new arrangements and take the necessary action; people who have lived in England for less than 12 months or who are not living here voluntarily and those who have nominated someone else to make the decision on their behalf.

It says nothing at all about "people with dread diseases that are genetic in origin that you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy."

I think I answered to another comment of yours, that presumably your condition is noted on your medical records. Which are definitely looked up before transplants.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com