Is donating a liver the same as having the right to an abortion?

[Blue_Roses]

I was watching a segment on GMA this morning about a son who donated 2/3 of his liver to his terminally ill father, who would otherwise die if he didn't get a donor. The twenty-five-year-old son stepped up to the plate and offered to be the donor. The son who donated part of his liver stands the chance of having 10-15% post-op complications with the possibility of recurring surgery (hopefully not, but those are the odds).

As I sat there and listened to Dr. Tim Johnson talk to Robin about this, I was humbled by the selflessness of this young man to do this for his father. As a parent I know there would be no question as to the whether I would do this for my child--as many of you probably would feel. But what struck a chord with me was Dr. Johnson's last statement. Even with the probablity of having complications later (he said the liver should fully grow back in 48 weeks--wow), "it surely was his RIGHT to do this."
Hmmm...his RIGHT to do what he chooses with his own body.

I can already hear the "defense" in this statement, but it still boils down to --his right.

[China_cat]

1. But he's male and THAT'S DIFFERENT.

I don't really need the smiley, do I?

[Bunny]

3. Yes, he's male AND there's no sexual behavior involved. So of

course he has the right to control his own body.

[Blue_Roses]

5. no you don't need the smiley

'cause I know exactly what you mean...

[mondo joe]

2. That's my rationale for supporting abortion. Autonomy over one's own body.

And I've likened it to transplants - no one can force you to use your body to support the life of another.

[Blue_Roses]

4. that 's so true

I've never associated the two, but it's true.

[Cobalt Violet]

6. I support his right to choose to donate his liver.

And if he ever got pregnant I would support his right to chose abortion too.

I'm not sure if that answers the question you pose.

I didn't see the piece but thank you for posting about this story. I really enjoyed it.

Did you happen to catch the nature of the father's liver disease?

[Blue_Roses]

7. I think what stuck with me

is how easily the word "right" is manipulated to suit the situation. I think the right to an abortion is not just a legal issue but a personal one...one that we continue to fight. It boils down to the right to do with our own bodies what we want--however, controversial it is to others. This should be an issue that has been long gone as for as debating it. Sadly it's still just as hot a topic now as it was in '73.

[fasttense]

8. What if his father damaged his liver because he was an alcoholic?

I still see it as the right of the twenty-five year old man to do what he wants with his body as I see it as a right of a woman to do what she wants with her body. But is the son enabling a man to go on drinking, without repercussions. Just like the right wing religiously insane see abortions (and birth control) as enabling women to go on have sex without repercussions.

The anti-choice freaks would object to the woman doing what she wants but not to the man doing what he wants.

[Blue_Roses]

10. The father suffered with Hepatitus C and said he was a

"social drinker" but the son said if he was to do this his father had to promise to give up his old vices of smoking and drinking. It's been 2 months and so far his father has kept good on his promise.

[Cobalt Violet]

12. Hepatitis C is the first thing I thought of when I read your post.

I wonder how long the Dad had it before his liver got that bad? :scared:

I'm glad Hep C got some coverage. It usually never does.

[JackBeck]

14. I'm an HIV and HCV health literacy educator.

I couldn't agree with you more.

[Cobalt Violet]

15. Are 10,000 a year still dying from HCV?

Is that an accurate number?

[JackBeck]

18. Yes, it is.

And the number is expected to reach 30,000 by 2015.

The number that really gets me is that over 200 million people worldwide are infected with HCV. When compared to HIV, around 45 million people worldwide, you'd think more attention would be paid to HCV.

[Cobalt Violet]

20. 200 million people HCV+, That sounds like a pandemic.

:wow: I wish we could address the pandemic we have instead of the one we might get.

Not that HIV shouldn't get the attention it is but HCV is just nearly invisible as far as attention goes.

[JackBeck]

22. Very invisible.

And 25-30% of HIV+ people are co-infected with HCV. End stage liver disease is the leading cause of AIDS-related deaths.

1988 was the year the virus was identified and named. From what we've gathered, the virus has been around since 1948, that's almost 60 years.

In 1988, though, all the attention and monies were being directed toward HIV/AIDS. And here we have a virus that is discovered that year and only recently has scant attention been given to its prevention and treatment.

[RB TexLa]

9. It is your right to control and regulate your body, all the way to and including suicide

others don't have the right to control and regulate it but you do.

[Booster]

11. On my driver's license it says I want my organs donated, and my

boss said "you're going to get to the Golden Gate and St. Peter is going to say YOU GAVE AWAY WHAT?" Laughed my ass off.

[Cobalt Violet]

13. Thank you for that.

I'd do the same if I could.

[Booster]

23. Well, it may turn out not to be such a good thing. I think I'm going

to wear out almost everything before the time comes. My intentions were in the right place though.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

16. Of Course Not.

For example, if you ate a piece of 7 month old liver I doubt you'd be charged with murder.

[HannibalBarca]

17. The liver is an amazing organ

incredible regenerative powers and a 90% redundancy not to mention it's ability to metabolise all the drugs (prescription and otherwise)that people pump themselves full of daily. If only all our organs had the same regenerative capabilities. Our "designer" must have forgotten to include that particular feature.

[JackBeck]

19. That it is.

When I first started doing health education, I became amazed by how our liver has the amazing ability to regenerate. And it's also our body's filter and warehouse and has hundreds, maybe even thousands, of different functions.

[Parche]

21. Julia

Save the Liver!!!