Woman received lungs of a 30-year smoker

[WoodysGirl]

Tue Jun 15, 5:35 am ET

LONDON – The family of a 28-year-old British woman who unknowingly received a lung transplant from a smoker says she would have been "horrified" and have lodged a complaint.

Cystic fibrosis sufferer Lyndsey Scott in February received a double lung transplant from a donor who had smoked for three decades. She died in July of pneumonia.

Britain's top transplant official Chris Rudge defended the decision and said patients should be told they are not getting a "brand new" organ. He said on the BBC that "lungs from a smoker can be working perfectly normally."

Scott's family called for patients to be told more information about organ donors before accepting a transplant.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/eu_britain_donated_smoker_s_lungs

 

[CowboyWay]

Tue Jun 15, 5:35 am ET

LONDON – The family of a 28-year-old British woman who unknowingly received a lung transplant from a smoker says she would have been "horrified" and have lodged a complaint.

Cystic fibrosis sufferer Lyndsey Scott in February received a double lung transplant from a donor who had smoked for three decades. She died in July of pneumonia.

Britain's top transplant official Chris Rudge defended the decision and said patients should be told they are not getting a "brand new" organ. He said on the BBC that "lungs from a smoker can be working perfectly normally."

Scott's family called for patients to be told more information about organ donors before accepting a transplant.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/eu_britain_donated_smoker_s_lungs

Wow. I didn't know you could get a complete lung transplant. There is no reason for me to quit smoking now. WOOOOO !!!!!!

 

[daschoo]

i'm not happy with the standard of my life saving organ transplant.

are you alive?

yes

then go away

edit: just noticed she died five months later, guess i was too hasty

 

[YosemiteSam]

I can't imagine that happening. First off, if she smoked 30 years; the lung damage would have been clearly visible on the outside of the lung. Enough so that any idiot would have known not to put that lung into someone else.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

She died in July of pneumonia.

I wonder if pneumonia was a side effect of the kidney transplant?

Anywho, if the doctors who performed the kidney transplant operation felt that the lungs were in a good enough condition, even though it was from someone who smoked for 30 years, then I don't know what the issue is.

If I had Cystic Fibrosis and I was told death was certainty if I didn't get a transplant, I would take what I could get as opposed to the alternative of knowing you are going to die.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

I believe I have heard stories of people that smoked for decades that were perfectly healthy and didn't have any lung problems.

 

[Jon88]

Wow. I didn't know you could get a complete lung transplant. There is no reason for me to quit smoking now. WOOOOO !!!!!!

I didn't know that until several months ago.

I think the prognosis is like 4-5 years.

This lady's is probably a lot less.

 

[YosemiteSam]

I believe I have heard stories of people that smoked for decades that were perfectly healthy and didn't have any lung problems.

Smoking leaves tar deposits inside the lung. While they may not get emphysema or lung cancer, there is still lung damage. There are reasons why smokers have issues taking in full breaths.

For non-smokers to see what it feels like to breath as a smoker, take in a full breath, let half of it out, then try to breath in again.

Now, imagine breathing like that while trying to run. Doesn't work so well.

I smoked for about 15 years. Quitting in 2000 was the best thing I ever did.

 

[Jon88]

Smoking leaves tar deposits inside the lung. While they may not get emphysema or lung cancer, there is still lung damage. There are reasons why smokers have issues taking in full breaths.

For non-smokers to see what it feels like to breath as a smoker, take in a full breath, let half of it out, then try to breath in again.

Now, imagine breathing like that while trying to run. Doesn't work so well.

I smoked for about 15 years. Quitting in 2000 was the best thing I ever did.

Not too long ago there was a lady who smoked who lived to be 100. They estimated she had smoked 500,000 cigarettes in her lifetime.

I used to as a teenager but I can't do it now. It tastes like crap, destroys your teeth, destroys your health, and smells horrible.

 

[Doomsday101]

Smoking leaves tar deposits inside the lung. While they may not get emphysema or lung cancer, there is still lung damage. There are reasons why smokers have issues taking in full breaths.

For non-smokers to see what it feels like to breath as a smoker, take in a full breath, let half of it out, then try to breath in again.

Now, imagine breathing like that while trying to run. Doesn't work so well.

I smoked for about 15 years. Quitting in 2000 was the best thing I ever did.

I take it you quit during the off season? :laugh2:

 

[Maikeru-sama]

As I stated, what was the woman's alternative? She had Cystic Fibrosis and death was certain, so the doctor's acquired the lungs of a 30 year smoker and I am sure the lungs were in good enough shape to allow this woman to live longer, so I don't see the issue.

I thought this was an interesting timeline of what happens when you quit smoking.

In 20 minutes your blood pressure will drop back down to normal.

In 8 hours the carbon monoxide (a toxic gas) levels in your blood stream will drop by half, and oxygen levels will return to normal.

In 48 hours your chance of having a heart attack will have decreased. All nicotine will have left your body. Your sense of taste and smell will return to a normal level.

In 72 hours your bronchial tubes will relax, and your energy levels will increase.

In 2 weeks your circulation will increase, and it will continue to improve for the next 10 weeks.

In 3 to 9 months coughing, wheezing, and breathing problems will dissipate as your lung capacity improves by 10%.

In 1 year your risk of having a heart attack will have dropped by half.

In 5 years your risk of having a stroke returns to that of a non-smoker.

In 10 years your risk of lung cancer will have returned to that of a non-smoker.

In 15 years your risk of heart attack will have returned to that of a non-smoker.

link

 

[YosemiteSam]

I take it you quit during the off season? :laugh2:

I quit October 5th 2000. I snuffed out my last cigarette at 6:05pm, in Irvin Texas. I remember it like it was yesterday.

 

[Jon88]

It's a horrible, horrible habit. Aside from drugs it's probably the worst you can have.

 

[Hoofbite]

Lungs are older than she is.......that's nasty. I wonder if she could taste cigarettes on her breath after getting her new lungs. That'd be ****ing gross.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

I can't imagine that happening. First off, if she smoked 30 years; the lung damage would have been clearly visible on the outside of the lung. Enough so that any idiot would have known not to put that lung into someone else.

It could have been her only choice, in which case it would be better than the alternative.

 

[ajk23az]

It's a horrible, horrible habit. Aside from drugs it's probably the worst you can have.

Horrible and absolutely disgusting. uke:

 

[Signals]

Wow. I didn't know you could get a complete lung transplant. There is no reason for me to quit smoking now. WOOOOO !!!!!!

Not only that but when you die you can be a lung donor.

Dude! rock on. :laugh2:

 

[DallasCowpoke]

I imagine your odds of finding a non-smoking lung donor in the UK, would be about as good as finding someone with a bright white smile for a toothpaste commercial?

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Tue Jun 15, 5:35 am ET

LONDON – The family of a 28-year-old British woman who unknowingly received a lung transplant from a smoker says she would have been "horrified" and have lodged a complaint.

Cystic fibrosis sufferer Lyndsey Scott in February received a double lung transplant from a donor who had smoked for three decades. She died in July of pneumonia.

Britain's top transplant official Chris Rudge defended the decision and said patients should be told they are not getting a "brand new" organ. He said on the BBC that "lungs from a smoker can be working perfectly normally."

Scott's family called for patients to be told more information about organ donors before accepting a transplant.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/eu_britain_donated_smoker_s_lungs

of course not. But you're supposed to get a healthy one.

If someone wanted a non-healthy organ, might as well take one from bbgun on the black market.

 

[Seven]

Tue Jun 15, 5:35 am ET

LONDON – The family of a 28-year-old British woman who unknowingly received a lung transplant from a smoker says she would have been "horrified" and have lodged a complaint.

Cystic fibrosis sufferer Lyndsey Scott in February received a double lung transplant from a donor who had smoked for three decades. She died in July of pneumonia.

Britain's top transplant official Chris Rudge defended the decision and said patients should be told they are not getting a "brand new" organ. He said on the BBC that "lungs from a smoker can be working perfectly normally."

Scott's family called for patients to be told more information about organ donors before accepting a transplant.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/eu_britain_donated_smoker_s_lungs

Perfectly normally? I'd get a second opinion. NOT in Britain.