GHOULISH NEW ORGAN PROCUREMENT PROCEDURE

 

GHOULISH NEW ORGAN PROCUREMENT PROCEDURE By Julie Grimstad 6-20-23   Most people who agree to be organ donors think they will be dead – that is, they will have died in a natural way – before any procedure is begun to obtain their organs. Think again.[1] The ethics of organ donation is based on the “dead donor rule.” According to this rule, a patient should not be killed for or by the donation of their organs. If the dead donor rule were scrupulously followed, vital organs would not be harvested from people who have signs of life. Unfortunately, it is not. A new organ procurement protocol is being rolled out: normothermic regional perfusion with controlled donation after circulatory death (DCDNRP). That’s a very long title for a ghoulish method of obtaining healthy hearts and other vital organs for  transplantation. First, what is Donation after Circulatory Death? Donation after circulatory death (DCD) has been used to procure vital organs for a couple of decades. Currently, approximately 20% of organ procurement is by DCD. Here is a simple explanation of DCD. A ventilator-dependent patient who cannot be declared “brain dead” is taken to the operating room where the ventilator is removed. When the surgical team can no longer detect a heartbeat, they wait two to five minutes before declaring the patient dead and quickly extract the person’s vital organs. (Note: Two to five minutes without a detectable heartbeat is not long enough to be certain the person is  dead.)   DCD heart transplants are rare due to concern about the viability of a patient’s heart after the cessation of circulation. The expectation is that NRPDCD will make more healthy hearts available for transplantation. A Ghoulish Procedure NRPDCD is fraught with ethical concerns. This protocol, developed by the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, is described in horrifying detail at clinicaltrials.gov.[2] Briefly, here is the process.   The patient (donor) is removed from life support. Once the heart has stopped (so-called “circulatory death”), the surgeons wait five minutes to see if the heart restarts on its own. Next, surgeons cut open the chest cavity, then sever blood flow to the brain, ensuring the death of the brain. The circulatory system is artificially restarted with an external pump. The heart is restarted, keeping it and other organs functioning and viable for harvesting. The opening of the chest occurs before the blood flow to the brain is severed. It is very possible that the donor is aware of what is happening to him or her. Unthinkable horror! NRPDCD is akin to cutting off the patient’s head before harvesting his or her organs. It is a clear violation of the dead donor rule. Protect yourself! HALO’s reason for being is to protect the medically vulnerable. No one is more vulnerable than a patient who is ventilator-dependent and a prospective organ donor. We warn repeatedly that it is not safe to consent to organ donation. And, with every innovation designed to procure more organs for the lucrative transplant industry, it becomes more urgent that people protect themselves. HALO's most frequently requested resource is the “I Refuse to Be an Organ Donor” wallet card, an indication that people are becoming increasingly leery about donating their vital organs. To obtain a wallet card, email your request to feedback@halovoice.org.   [1] HALO fact sheet “Are Organ Donors Truly Dead Before Their Organs Are Taken?” https://halovoice.org/wp-content/uploads/FINAL-HALO_Are-Organ-Donors-Truly-Dead-Before-Their-Organs-Are-Taken.pdf [2] “Safety and Effectiveness of NRP for DCD Heart Transplantation (DCDNRPHeart),” https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04626284     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Want to Help HALO and be  a Voice for the Medically Vulnerable?   DONATE NOW   Thank you for your support! Our organization is a 501 (c)(3) organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.   If you would like to donate through the mail, please send checks only to: HALO, 7301 Bass Lake RD, Minneapolis, MN 55428. MISSION STATEMENT The Healthcare Advocacy and Leadership Organization (HALO) is a voice for the medically vulnerable. As a non-profit, Christian organization, HALO addresses a wide array of ethical issues including euthanasia, assisted suicide, rationing of medical services, and hastening of death in healthcare settings. In addition, HALO promotes life-affirming healthcare practices, life-protective advance directives, and compassionate care for the sick and those nearing the end of their lives. In all circumstances, HALO espouses in healthcare practice the sanctity and integrity of every human person. HALO accomplishes its mission through intercessory prayer; widespread education; community awareness and assistance programs; interaction with patients, families, and caregivers; and referrals to appropriate resources when necessary.