tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4748060798655400108.post3905074185855765224..comments2023-11-02T08:55:35.510-07:00Comments on Market Design: Why some people don't register as deceased organ donorsAl Rothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02232854038397912604noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4748060798655400108.post-18684110874928034612014-11-19T22:19:32.514-08:002014-11-19T22:19:32.514-08:00Some [redacted] years ago I was at the DMV with my...Some [redacted] years ago I was at the DMV with my dad filling out the forms to get my Learner's Permit. When we got to the part about whether I wanted to register as an organ donor for my license, I didn't have an immediate answer. My dad, who was an eye surgeon, told me: "they're probably not going to give you the benefit of the doubt." ZHDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08214594460108974188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4748060798655400108.post-91753769208737111352014-11-18T08:27:06.494-08:002014-11-18T08:27:06.494-08:00I'm a registered organ donor, but I think this...I'm a registered organ donor, but I think this story is too quick to gloss over the possibility that being a deceased organ donor will slightly decrease your chance of coming back from cardiac or brain death. There is a very small chance that herculean active interventions and good luck could bring someone back from either category of death, and its just very simple, very pedantic math to say that doctors won't be pursuing those continued herculean interventions if you're an organ donor. There have also been a handful of cases where organ-procurement organization reps have been unduly involved in the care of possible organ donors who are dying: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/12/AR2007091202681_2.html?sid=ST2008032103015 .<br /><br />It would be more persuasive to say, "Part of the gift of organ donation is that you are giving up an infinitesimal chance of living for the sake of a much more certain benefit to someone else." Many patients and families wouldn't want to pursue herculean interventions anyway, and can see the altruistic benefits of slightly altering their care to have a more successful donation.<br /><br />People aren't wrong that these risks exist -- they're just misinformed about their likelihood. Acknowledging these risks forthrightly and educating patient's families about them is the right thing to do, regardless of its effect on donation rates.J.P.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02884421653887986971noreply@blogger.com