Cheney Followed the UNOS Rules. Stop the Insanity Please.

[BlueMTexpat]

90. I admit that I am not knowledgeable about the transplant

guidelines generally.

I also admit that I hate Dick Cheney with a passion that I reserve for very few.

But my question is - and I would ask this about any patient of his age no matter what my personal feelings about that person may be - why was HE even considered a transplant candidate now when he has been in such rotten condition since he was in his late 30s (or so I understand) and when candidates over 70 years of age do not seem generally to be eligible?

See, e.g., http://www.umm.edu/heart/elig_crit.htm (Maryland) and http://www.texasheartinstitute.org/HIC/HeartDoctor/answer_191.cfm

I am also - per my driver's license - an organ donor. I also have a Living Will in which I have directed that any organ of mine that can be "recycled" so to speak, should be.

Cheney may not have "jumped the queue" but he surely was given individual - if not special - consideration in being considered for this operation by the mere fact of his age.

As someone who is fast approaching Cheney's age right now, if my own health were such that I required a heart transplant, I would want any viable heart supposedly meant for me to go to someone younger whose family actually needs him/her. I have lived my life - and enjoyed it for the most part - but we simply are not meant to live forever. Most importantly, I have tried never to cause harm to anyone. I am not afraid to move on to the next phase, whatever it is. If it is.

I can understand why Cheney might be afraid to move on to that next phase. I leave him to Heaven. But I would absolutely love it if Earth got its licks in first.