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George Best in Hospital

75 replies

Earlybird · 03/10/2005 21:43

Lead story on the news tonight is that he is in hospital in intensive care. I'm finding it hard to understand that this is considered a big story, especially as he's been in this sort of shape many times before. His glory days were such a long time ago, and in the intervening years he's been a shambolic mess - even to those inclined to view his situation sympathetically.

Does anyone really care? Do you feel sorry for him?

OP posts:
Flossam · 04/10/2005 09:01

Most people living with addiction aren't given a gift which they seem to care not a jot for, which could have saved someone else's life, Bundle. That is why he is disliked.

potty1 · 04/10/2005 09:06

No and no.

Feel sorry for the family that donated a liver hoping it would give someone a new lease of life. It's a gift and I don't think he worked hard enough to look after it.

bundle · 04/10/2005 09:08

flossam many people with addictions are given valuable resources which they often take for granted and go on their merry (destructive) way.

my stance doesn't mean i'm not angry at the way Best (and people like him) has abused the organ he's been given as another chance for life..but i just can't damn him in a black and white way, none of us are perfect

RosiePosie · 04/10/2005 09:14

Yes, I agree there should be more professional help available for alcholics on the NHS. My mother is routinely taken into hospital, physically patched up and then sent home again. There is little after care, no counselling, phsycotherapy or whatever she needs to get to the route of why she is an alcoholic. She has been offered time in rehab, she lasted three days and decided to leave. The NHS cannot make alcoholics accept treatment. I truely believe that some alcoholics cannot or will not be cured. So, what do you do? Keep patching them up and sending them on their way? I don't know.

bundle · 04/10/2005 09:17

I don't know either Rosie, but if the NHS refused to treat the alcoholics I see in A&E (dd1: why's that lady falling over mummy? me: she's tired, love) then they'd have to refuse others too. i'm sure the drs and nurses get fed up of it too

LadyCodofCodford · 04/10/2005 09:19

abd ronnie barker has died too

RosiePosie · 04/10/2005 09:22

Bundle, I agree with you. And I'm certain George Best wasn't given his liver and thought "sod it, I don't care, I'm just going to ruin this chance I've got and carry on drinking myself to death". For a while he probably sincerely thought he'd give it his best shot, but I don't understand the mind of an alcoholic. That lure of alcohol for some people is just too strong to resist. Nothing else seems to matter. My mother forfeits the chance to see her beloved grandchildren for the sake of a drink. I don't understand it, but I realise she can't help it.

expatinscotland · 04/10/2005 09:24

Is there a standard policy on alcoholics who've suffered liver damage b/c of drink receiving transplants?

There was a man shown during the Organ Donation Week who'd ruined his liver through drink. BUT, he had been clean for 7 years, turned his life around, become a husband and father. With his new liver, he was able to return to work. He did NOT go back to drinking.

It's too bad there are people like George Best who give other, recovering alcoholics who have moved on past drink a bad name.

He does seem to be given preferential treatment, as noddy pointed out.

It's really too bad all around.

bundle · 04/10/2005 09:25

gosh rosie, putting it like that (about your mum preferring a drink to her grandkids) is a v powerful image. I've met some of the surgeons (including GB's) involved in liver transplants and I'm sure they hope for the best with this v troubled group of patients (not that all liver transplant patients are on the bottle!)

bundle · 04/10/2005 09:25

cod what's ronnie got to do with this?

foxinsocks · 04/10/2005 09:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

bundle · 04/10/2005 09:33

it said on the bbc that it was a result of the medication he was taking to prevent organ rejection. here

foxinsocks · 04/10/2005 09:39

oh thanks for that bundle

to answer earlybird's question, I think it makes news because so many people remember him in his glory days (he was really the David Beckham of his time) and read the stories about him now because it's unbelievable to see how hit his self destruct button.

Besides, alcoholism is a horrible disease and I think it's awful to judge someone just because they have succumbed to it.

noddyholder · 04/10/2005 10:22

the kidney infection is probably because of his lowered immunity it does tend to let infections run riot in the body Alcohol affects these drugs more in liver transplant patients than any other as they are metabolised in the liver so he is not doing himself any favours at all All of this would have been explained to him before the operation although I do accept that some alcoholics just never beat it I feel he could have shown some respect for the donor's family and at least showed some discretion .I really only added to this thread as I am on antibiotics atm for a kidney infection and was unable to get a bed for intensive treatment so am at home sick as a dog with 9 more days of treatment!He is very lucky that people rally round him every time he gets in trouble

Flossam · 04/10/2005 11:34

Oh, Bundle. I don't begrudge anyone trying to get dry and sort their lives out. I think that it's great and there should be more places where this can happen.

BUT, GB has been given an extra special gift. Perhaps one of the best gifts that can be given. I've some understanding of organ donation as I'm an intensive care nurse. It dosen't happen regularly. The family of the liver doner will have a pretty good idea that it was GB who recieved their loved ones organ, whether or not they entered into any kind of communication. GB owes it to them to look after that liver. Simple as.

LadyFioOfTipton · 04/10/2005 11:40

i feel sorry for the poor bloke
just goes to show you can have all the money in the world and still not be able to beat your demons

expatinscotland · 04/10/2005 11:42

There are a lot of people like him w/o his money and fame. I wonder if they all get the same treatment he does?

Flossam · 04/10/2005 11:45

IIRC he did have it privately. Often livers used in private transplants have been passed over by the NHS as not suitable for transplant. They are very strict.

LadyFioOfTipton · 04/10/2005 11:45

well as far as I know they do not discriminate when you are on the transplant list

but of course he can pay private for a hospital bed, where as noddy cant

LadyFioOfTipton · 04/10/2005 11:46

can you have a transplant done privately?

SherlockLGJ · 04/10/2005 11:49

Thanks Floss, a much more articulate post than mine.

But basically what I meant.

LadyFioOfTipton · 04/10/2005 11:52

Flossam, from my knowledge of transplants you are not allowed to contact the family or even know more than age of donor etc. When did they start telling people more in depth details?

BaronessJewelsofToochester · 04/10/2005 11:56

wishing people dead is ill befitting of a Laydee, Codsford! (and moondog - shame on you!)

He's a prat, that much is clear though. This is probably just the start of his organs giving up on him - I hope he thinks his lifestyle has been worth it all.

RosiePosie · 04/10/2005 11:57

Well, if he did have it done privately, he obviously wanted it done. No one would put themselves through an op like that if they weren't serious about it. I believe he had every intention of stopping drinking, but it's not as simple as that. Some alcholics just can't. So, in that respect, I take back what I said about having no compassion for him, but at the same time, knowing what it is like to live with someone who cannot stop, I feel like screaming at him to stop being so stupid and selfish. It's not black and white. He probably shouldn't have had the liver, with hindsight. But no one knew before he had the transplant - not even him - if he would change his life around or not. I think it was right he was given the chance - but having been given such a big chance as that and blowing it, I would be inclined not to want to give him any more chances. Like with my mother, I think you have to reach a point where enough is enough - I think George Best is beyond help.

LadyFioOfTipton · 04/10/2005 12:05

i agree with you rosie