Should an alcoholic be allowed a liver transplant?

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

Should an alcoholic be allowed a liver transplant?

Let’s say there is a waiting list for livers, should alcoholics be given less priority over someone who doesn’t drink (and needs a liver)?

Why or why not?

 

[MrDawn]

That's a tough question seeing as they'll drink this new liver into oblivion.

But I think everyone should be given equal medical treatment.

 

[Smiley]

Absolutely not. In fact, I strongly believe all addicts should be stripped of all medical benefits at the expense of the tax payers money. If they want medical care, they should pay for it by themselves, if they can. If they can't - tough. Society thrives on equal contribution, not on worthless parasites who leech off of a hard working (wo)men so they can spend their days boozing themselves to sleep.

I know and actually understand that drinking is a coping mechanism for a lot of people who feel overwhelmed with something and with life in general. Life sucks, but alcohol isn't the answer either.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

Absolutely not. In fact, I strongly believe all addicts should be stripped of all medical benefits at the expense of the tax payers money. If they want medical care, they should pay for it by themselves, if they can. If they can't - tough. Society thrives on equal contribution, not on worthless parasites who leech off of a hard working (wo)men so they can spend their days boozing themselves to sleep.

I know and actually understand that drinking is a coping mechanism for a lot of people who feel overwhelmed with something and with life in general. Life sucks, but alcohol isn't the answer either.

That’s harsh, over here we do pay for our own medical insurance. Should our insurances decline coverage too?

 

[Smiley]

I'm not familiar with how the US medical insurance system works, but if you can afford medical treatment and don't mind paying the piper, who am I to dis a brie?

 

[Dan The Man]

Should an alcoholic be allowed a liver transplant?

Let’s say there is a waiting list for livers, should alcoholics be given less priority over someone who doesn’t drink (and needs a liver)?

Why or why not?

If said alcoholic is in need of an liver transparent purely due to his or her life choices to consume alcohol irresponsibly over a continuous period of time, then others should receive priority.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

If said alcoholic is in need of an liver transparent purely due to his or her life choices to consume alcohol irresponsibly over a continuous period of time, then others should receive priority.

I’m of mixed feelings, who are we to decide someone is a degenerate just for drinking. We don’t know all the specifics of a persons life and why they made certain choices. To say they should just die because they brought it on themselves is pretty harsh. In 2022 we should be able to whip up a new liver in a lab or something . 😛

 

[Smiley]

Priorities. You have two humans in need of a liver transplant, but only one liver available. One of them is a hard working provider his family relies on, and the other one is a boozer who practically drank his life away and is nothing but a burden to the community. Which one do you give the liver to? This is how doctors make such decisions.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

Priorities. You have two humans in need of a liver transplant, but only one liver available. One of them is a hard working provider his family relies on, and the other one is a boozer who practically drank his life away and is nothing but a burden to the community. Which one do you give the liver to? This is how doctors make such decisions.

What if both people are hard working providers for their family?

 

[Smiley]

"Boozer who practically drank his life away and is nothing but a burden to the community" implies he has no family or does not provide for them.

 

[MrDawn]

Priorities. You have two humans in need of a liver transplant, but only one liver available. One of them is a hard working provider his family relies on, and the other one is a boozer who practically drank his life away and is nothing but a burden to the community. Which one do you give the liver to? This is how doctors make such decisions.

Personally, I'd leave it to chance and flip a coin.

 

[ROHAN]

Healthy people should be given priority as they will give the most value to the transplant.

 

[Merciless]

Depending on the circumstances, people can change and maybe with a new change some people could really improve and find a better life for themselves.

All treatment should be equal across the board.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

All treatment should be equal across the board.

Ideally, but when you have to choose one or the other, who gets the liver? The alcoholic or the sober person?

 

[Merciless]

Ideally, but when you have to choose one or the other, who gets the liver? The alcoholic or the sober person?

It all depends of circumstances and who is most likely going to benefit the most from the liver, the sober person could be suicidal and the alcoholic could really want to change their life around. You never know.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

It all depends of circumstances and who is most likely going to benefit the most from the liver, the sober person could be suicidal and the alcoholic could really want to change their life around. You never know.

Those are good points. Either person is a gable when you think about it like that. Easier to just flip a coin.

 

[Merciless]

Those are good points. Either person is a gable when you think about it like that. Easier to just flip a coin.

Rock, paper, scissors lol.

 

[Smiley]

No. Rock. paper, scissors, lizard, Spock!

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

Rock, paper, scissors lol.

I was just playing that game the other day with a co-worker. To see who gets the harder task. I won

 

[Merciless]

I was just playing that game the other day with a co-worker. To see who gets the harder task. I won

It’s always an amazing feeling winning rock, paper, scissors.