At Johns Hopkins Comprehensive Transplant Center, Five Organ Donors Help Pull Off The First “Domino Donor” Quintuple Transplant Surgery
On November 14, five people each received a kidney in what’s being called the first quintuple transplant surgery ever. 12 surgeons, 11 anesthesiologists, and 18 nurses took part in the transplant surgeries that took place in 6 operating rooms at the Johns Hopkins Comprehensive Transplant Center. Although, truth be told, Nearly 100 medical professionals were instrumental in making this complex series of transplants possible, including immunogeneticists, operating room nurses, nephrologists, transfusion medicine physicians, critical care doctors, nurse coordinators, technicians, social workers, psychologists, pharmacists, financial coordinators, and administrative support people.
Individually, the transplants wouldn't have worked. Four of the transplant candidates had willing donors who were not compatible matches. But by pulling off a five-way swap, five people gave their kidneys to 5 strangers, each pair a match. One of the donors was an altruistic donor—someone who offered to give her kidney away to anyone who needed it. Honore Rothstein, 48, says she was inspired to donate a kidney following the deaths of her daughter and husband.
The fifth recipient was pulled from the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) organ recipient list. According to a Johns Hopkins official, 6,000 people on the national deceased donor list have a willing, but incompatible donor. The five recipients and five donors are all reportedly doing fine following their surgeries.
Organ donations are an estate planning matter. According to organdonor.gov, here are some frequently asked questions and answers about organ donations:
Who can become a donor?
All individuals can indicate their intent to donate (persons under 18 years of age must have parent's or guardian's consent).
Are there age limits for donors?
There are no age limitations on who can donate. The deciding factor on whether a person can donate is the person’s physical condition, not the person’s age. Newborns as well as senior citizens have been organ donors. Persons younger than 18 years of age must have a parent's or guardian's consent.
What can be donated?
· Organs: heart, kidneys, pancreas, lungs, liver, and intestines.
· Tissue: cornea, skin, bone marrow, heart valves, and connective tissue.
· Bone marrow.
Can I sell my organs?
No! The National Organ Transplant Act (Public Law 98-507) makes it ILLEGAL to sell human organs and tissues. Violators are subject to fines and imprisonment. Among the reasons for this rule is the concern of Congress that buying and selling of organs might lead to inequitable access to donor organs with the wealthy having an unfair advantage.
Becoming A Living Donor
According to matchingdonor.com, although deceased organ donation is extremely important and life saving, you don't have to wait until you die to be a heroic organ donor. There are more than 80,000 people in the U.S. waiting on a list for an organ transplant. Seventeen people a day die while waiting. Although there are risks with undergoing any surgery, most live donors do very well and have no physical ill effects or alterations in their own health.
Organs that can be donated by a live donor:
Single Kidney:
This is the most common live organ donorship. Over 6900 live kidney transplants were performed in 2003. “For the donor there is little risk in living with one kidney
Because the remaining kidney compensates to do the work of both kidneys.” -UNOS.org, 2004
Liver:
“Individuals can donate segments of liver, which has the ability to regenerate the
Segment and regain full function”-UNOS.org, 2004
The regeneration of the liver can occur within week's after the transplant.
Lung:
There are normally 5 lung lobes and a live organ donor can donate a lobe to someone in need of a lung transplant. The lung lobe does not regenerate, but the remaining lung tissue expands to fill the donated area.
Pancreas:
Live donors can donate a portion of their pancreas and usually have no problems with reduced function.
Cost coverage for transplant surgery:
All the pre-operative testing, the transplant surgery, and the post-operative care should be provided for by the organ recipients insurance. It is legal for the recipient to cover the live donors cost related to the operation, which may include travel expenses, lodging, and lost wages. It is against the law to benefit financially from a live organ donation. Live donorship should not change a donor's Life, Disability, and Health insurance costs. You should contact you insurance agent to verify this.
Sagaria Law, P.C. handles estate planning matters in Monterey County, Santa Clara County, and Alameda County. Contact Sagaria Law, P.C. for a free, no obligation consultation.
Hopkins Pulls Of First Quintuple Kidney Transplant, Examiner.com, November 20, 2006
Hopkins Performs Historic "Domino Donor" "Quintuple" Kidney Transplant, Hopkinsmedicine.org, November 20, 2006
Donate Life: FAQ, Organ Donor.gov
Related Web Resource:
Donate Life America, Share Your Life.org
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