General Discussion

laundry_queen

(8,646 posts)

54. I heard this morning average wait time for a heart

Sun Mar 25, 2012, 03:44 PM

Mar 2012

is lower than other organs. 6-12 months was the average wait. Cheney waited 20 months.

That said, from what I've heard is sometimes organs they won't use on younger people, ie organs not in pristine condition, they will use on older people. Even on younger people if they are quite near death they will use imperfect organs. I know of a younger girl who was near death who got new lungs from a smoker. It's entirely possible they wouldn't have used this heart on a younger patient anyhow or that there was no one desperately ill enough to take the chance with this possibly imperfect heart. I'm not happy that the only reason Cheney is alive is because he's rich and that poor people with his problem die everyday, but I'm also not convinced someone more deserving would have gotten this heart.

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WHY are they giving a man who probably has less than a decade left a perfectly good heart?! [View all] FarLeftFist Mar 2012 OP

Medical Malpractice randr Mar 2012 #1

Death panels, anyone? Anyone? rustydog Mar 2012 #2

Yes I know the medical panels as well MattBaggins Mar 2012 #39

When Cheney had the artificial pump, for I guess 20 months, he traveled crunch60 Mar 2012 #68

He has a really good health insurance policy slackmaster Mar 2012 #3

Good morning children. Can you say "reject"? I knew you could. Lint Head Mar 2012 #4

Why don't they want all Americans to have Cheney type health care Johonny Mar 2012 #5

For me ... that is the most important question etherealtruth Mar 2012 #53

Are you always this upset at the idea of elderly transplant recipients? eShirl Mar 2012 #6

When they get special treatment over our citizens, yes. Get in line like everyone else. FarLeftFist Mar 2012 #7

If he did indeed skip the line, I wonder why he didn't go for the transplant any sooner. eShirl Mar 2012 #11

He DID WAIT IN LINE. Read before you make a fool out of yourself. n/t K Gardner Mar 2012 #12

I think they read it but don't believe it. eShirl Mar 2012 #17

Really, tell that to my friends son who was laid to rest after 3yrs on that list. FarLeftFist Mar 2012 #52

Really. Ask my husband how long he waited for each of his transplants. eShirl Mar 2012 #58

Average wait time is two years nadinbrzezinski Mar 2012 #32

I heard this morning average wait time for a heart laundry_queen Mar 2012 #54

UNOs cares little for money or connections nadinbrzezinski Mar 2012 #55

Duh. laundry_queen Mar 2012 #57

Well I know more than a few nadinbrzezinski Mar 2012 #59

Cheney, because of his power and money, was leakfrogged over hundreds of other crunch60 Mar 2012 #15

You need to PROVE that if you're going to assert it. Otherwise DU looks like K Gardner Mar 2012 #18

Funny. Rex Mar 2012 #36

Funny make that two nadinbrzezinski Mar 2012 #60

This is what I am talking about.. crunch60 Mar 2012 #61

How long was Chenney in the list? nadinbrzezinski Mar 2012 #35

This message was self-deleted by its author zappaman Mar 2012 #51

This message was self-deleted by its author Obamanaut Mar 2012 #42

I agree. My husband died at the age of 78 from kidney failure. Cleita Mar 2012 #8

My uncle's heart is failing. He's in his mid-80s. EFerrari Mar 2012 #13

He probably won't get one even if he wants one. Cleita Mar 2012 #16

Thanks, Cleita. EFerrari Mar 2012 #48

I was wondering the same thing. Major Hogwash Mar 2012 #9

Not really MattBaggins Mar 2012 #40

Oh god, people, PLEASE don't REC this thread.... K Gardner Mar 2012 #10

Well said. Thank you. randome Mar 2012 #14

Well said. Bluenorthwest Mar 2012 #20

I hope that's true tularetom Mar 2012 #23

some factors are: closest tissue "match," prognosis, time in waiting list eShirl Mar 2012 #27

As his cardiopathy got worst he was placed nadinbrzezinski Mar 2012 #37

We don't want laws changed. We just want to be able to express kestrel91316 Mar 2012 #26

Thank you for adding reason and sanity to this discussion nobodyspecial Mar 2012 #31

Because we live in a plutocracy. Rex Mar 2012 #19

Because he's rich and more important than most other people. He matters. We don't. nt valerief Mar 2012 #21

Because he can pay the deductible? Maybe? nt BOHICA12 Mar 2012 #22

Money and power? n/t arthritisR_US Mar 2012 #24

Maybe they felt sorry for him because he's never had one! nt Walk away Mar 2012 #25

Imagine if an anti-war Democrat's heart was used to keep him alive mainer Mar 2012 #28

Do we really want a system in which nobodyspecial Mar 2012 #33

I'm not saying it should be weighed. I'm just saying it's infuriating. mainer Mar 2012 #46

That remote possibility nobodyspecial Mar 2012 #47

Of course not. I've been a designated donor for three decades. mainer Mar 2012 #49

So we've gone from "Death panels don't exist" to "Where are the death panels?" hughee99 Mar 2012 #29

I agree nobodyspecial Mar 2012 #34

Cheney is a national security genius. gulliver Mar 2012 #30

I agree Cheney is a vile being. However, it isn't up to me to decide when or how he dies. davsand Mar 2012 #38

I don't think that physicians are certain rusty fender Mar 2012 #41

Are you for real? LisaL Mar 2012 #43

It's not a question of him GETTING a new heart it's a question of who ISN'T getting one b/c of him. FarLeftFist Mar 2012 #56

Because he wanted to know what it was like to have one? KamaAina Mar 2012 #44

14 % of people getting heart transplants were over the age of 65 last year. Jennicut Mar 2012 #45

Less than a decade? He's in such poor health that he probably has 3 - 4 years at most. Initech Mar 2012 #50

sometimes,getting matching tissue and blood types is tricky. w8liftinglady Mar 2012 #62

Because we believe in compassion and he waited in line like everyone else? N/T FreeState Mar 2012 #63

I copied this from a right wing blog luckyleftyme2 Mar 2012 #64

Well, that proves the point doesn't it? These cruel and tasteless K Gardner Mar 2012 #65

Darth Vader didn't have a heart did he? Rosa Luxemburg Mar 2012 #66

All future heart transplants to patients 65 or older sadbear Mar 2012 #67