Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#1
Many of you will have heard this one on the news...a 22 year old drank himself into oblivion from the age of 13 and has just died of Liver Failure..yes aged 22. Binge drinking isnt good but many just look at the problem from the social aspect, which I agree is bad enough. But what about the damage binge drinking is doing to the nations health. This guy was a habitual serious drinker and for someone that young it is a sad shame. Naturally enough the initial outcry was...why didnt they give him a transplant?? Him being 22.
Well there is a huge shortage of livers for tranplant purposes and despite this guys young age he clearly wasnt considerd a worthwhile recipient of a rare liver. You cant pluck mechanical livers off a shelf. Give a rare specimen to him and someone else with a better criteria for survival will certainly die.
As has been seen before with certain celebrities, it isnt possible for some people to change their lifestyles, so hooked are they onto the demon drink. So giving them livers just postpones the inevitable and uses up the resource.
Binge drinking has taken hold and whereas 20 years ago liver failure was NOT a problem with young people, experts say it has now become commonplace. That says a heck of a lot. But will the young listen..No! much the same way that they dont listen about smoking either. The health tab for us all mounts up.
But should this chap have been given a liver because of his young age alone?
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#2
No he certainly should not have had a liver.
There are questions that need to be asked about family/carers - child abuse for lettting him get away with heavy drinking from age 13.
DT1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 15 Apr 2008
- Posts: 1,116
#3
I'm inclined to say 'probably' in terms of the liver, although I really don't know enough.
However I totally agree with Barry that questions should be asked about who on earth would let a child drink heavily from 13!
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
#4
sadly tho in the real world it goes on all the time
parents not over concerned
I found a mother recently right off her head, wot chance for the kids?
Im no diffrent to any other i like a pint in moderation, but its about kids today the minority spoil it for thre majority or is the minority now becoming the majority?
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#5
two points here.
the medical profession raised the subject of serious binge drinking in the young well over 5 years ago.
they were reporting people in their 20's having the liver of 70 year olds that had drank regularly all of their life.
where are they getting the booze so young?
the police and councils work together to catch retailers selling to minors, fairly successfully in my view.
the shop opposite the nick in ladywell has been caught on more than one occassion.
some cheek eH?
they are now applying to keep their licence.
the second point, is in reference to barry's point about child abuse, the authorities are now putting pressure on parents of obese children, why not the parents of drunken children?
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#6
All sorts of organs are in short supply, not just livers, but kidneys, hearts, pancreases, in fact anything that can be transplanted, is in short supply.
The Government had a free vote two or three years ago on changing whether people should opt in or out of organ donation and very sadly, the majority of MPs voted to keep the status quo (no not the Francis Rossi kind).
It's very difficult to say that this young person didn't deserve a new chance in life with a new liver, but it would be very doubtful if he would have changed his life-style, even if his life did depend on it - as it did with Georgie Best.
To my mind, once the person has died, any part of the dead body should be used for transplantation - eyes, skin, limbs, organs whatever.
A dead body is a waste, if not used to benefit someone.
What a wonderful gift - to give life to someone, when someone close to you, has passed away.
Some can do it, some do do it, but I'm sure it's not easy, but so worthwhile.
Roger
#7
It is too easy for some to say "it was his own fault - no transplant". But if he was drinking so heavily from such a young age, and was only 22, he had plenty of capacity to change and needed the opportunity. I understand about the "6 months drink free" rule, but sometimes rules can be bent..............I would think that the reasons for his drinking so much so young so continuously needed to be explored. Drink or drugs can be used, and often are, to avoid dealing with abuse memories and feelings. Especially in the young. And any additcion or prop is hard to leave behind.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#8
i do believe there is a drug that helps you to stop drinking,a bit unpleasnt as i understand it.
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
#9
Had he been a 22 year old actor with millions in the bank, would he have got a liver transplant then?
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#10
most probably.private of course.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
#11
Roger
obviously this is a very emotive subject for you.
On organ transplant we realy must have the support of individuals rather than blanket your in if you dont say otherwise.
Its one of these emotive/divided opinion issues
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
#12
Roger
obviously this is a very emotive subject for you.
On organ transplant we realy must have the support of individuals rather than blanket your in if you dont say otherwise.
Its one of these emotive/divided opinion issues
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#13
a lot of religions would be against this.
for example the mormons do not drink tea coffee ot alcohol, beacuse they believe that they are taking their body with them when they go.
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#14
go where howard.
#15
Neasden.