donated organs going to foreigners

[southeastastra]

is this really true? read an article today

I think (and I could be wrong) NHS is only free to UK residents, if an EU citizen got an organ it would be because they were the best match in greatest need, the cost of the operation would be reimbursed to the NHS through their health insurance/govt health service. Organs are not being given out to people who can afford to pay over NHS patients, that would be very unethical.

I dont think the telegraoh link that SEA referred to initially does talk about buying organs.

I am really not concerened about my NI payments and that is coming from someone who has had to spend thousands of pounds on life saving treatment because the NHS could not meet my need.

A friend gave his bone marrow so that a man in Germany can have two more years with his children; he thinks it was worth doing.

This was on the BBC news (London edition?) a few weeks ago.

Apparently there are "foreigners" living in the UK who the doctors have recommended on clinical need to receive organs.

It is a non-story.

If any of us lived in any other (EU) country, and if we were in a position to need an organ, and if one came up that we were the best match of course we would want to the organ.

We can not pick and choose who our organs go to...

I am a "foreinger" too, and no matter what country I lived in (will one day go back to where I'm "from") I would want my organs to go the person who has the best match and most critical clinical need, regardless of where they are from.

I'd rather mine went to someone who could use it than be thrown away, but I don't like the idea of queue jumping in any respect, financial or otherwise.

I'm not sure I'm with you on this SEA as I don't understand the story and what we're all commenting on.

'foreigners' Thread title sounds xenophobic to me.

Basically we all need to share.

People with more money shouldn't have first dibs.

We need to share on the basis of clinical need and if that means someone from another country needs it first then they shoudl get it.

FGS what do we teach our children otherwise?

god i was drunk i'm sorry. i have no fear of foreigners

so is the article talking about "British" in terms of nationality, or residence status?

Personally I don't give a flying fuck who my organs go to after I die

Well sea what DO you think about it all now in the cold clear light of day?

ruddynorah - you know that English man you stole for a husband? Do you want another one? Am giving mine away.

"Under the system all EU patients are treated in order of clinical priority, which means that a patient from the Continent with more urgent need would receive a transplant ahead of a UK citizen.

This could mean EU patients leapfrogging British patients who are less seriously ill.

However, non-EU patients can only be given a transplant if no suitable recipient can be found among the British and EU pool."

Personally I don't have any problme with the above.

My DS is not a British citizen yet - am hoorified that anyone wouldn't let him have lifesaving transplant on the grounds that he is "foreign" even if he were clinically the most deserving case.

i shall be honest and say i am undecided

Buda, not really?

Although put me on the list of willing recipients if he knows how to wash up and stuff

I don;t understand why an accident of where you are born would dictate whether you should have life saving surgery or not.

The rule is within EU it should be done on basis of need/closest match, only goes outside EU if not suitable for anyone inside.

The EU thing works in our favour too - its not one way traffic.

Can you really lok at the photos on my profile and say you'd begrudge DS a new kidney if the need arose, but would prefer someonee "British" who wasn;t as sick to be treated instead?

Actually, don't answer that I'm not sure I'd like the answer!

The bone marrow register is EU wide and I was made aware of that when I joined it, as they want people to be aware that it is very much more likely that they could be called for further compatibility testing if the pool of potential recipients is the whole EU rather than just the UK.

I haven't even read the linked article and I don't intend to. I loathe the Daily Mail.

it wasn't in the daily mail

Watoose - yes. See my thread from last week here. He is still cluttering up my sofa!