[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by pavulon

You don't want to know about any of the harvesting. I've seen it first-hand and won't watch anymore. Donating organs would be a tough decision for me on several levels.

I flew medivac for years and 70% of it was transplant missions, usually heart, lung or liver. My wife was on the transplant team and one of the people who harvested the organs. Sad thing was that pretty often (this was in Germany) they would return to the jet in 30-45 minutes (normal was several hours) with no organ. Reason? They would open the chest of the patient and could tell within minutes that the person smoked cigarettes and they will not take ANY organ from smokers. Worse thing was that two people on the transplant team were also smokers... my ex-wife included.

The fun part of this was watching a heart transplant in person. Did this one night/morning with my wife on one side and good friend (head doctor) on the other. Was standing within inches of the patient for several hours while they removed the old organ and replaced it with the new one. Very few things in life compare to seeing this in person...

BTW, before anyone asks, have been a "organ donor" for years. Simply cannot see any reason not to do this. After I pass I have no need for them and it would save so many lives...