Kidney donation

[netibiza]

If your child desperately needed a kidney transplant and you were the only suitable donor and it was discovered you only had one kidney - knowing that you would die - would you still donate it - to save your child's (however old) life.

[ll_billym]

I would but of course the child would have to want this also, it could not be forced upon them.  Also, I'm not sure on this one but I don't think doctors would take your single kidney out as they would be knowingly killing you.

[tetherend]

I would have to netibiza, and plead with the medics to keep me going on dialasis (forgive my spelling) until a suitable donor was found for me.

[silly moo]

Rhetorical question I presume as no doc would let you.
I have to say I really don't know - but would like to think yes

[magicdice]

my gut feeling was no. i'm so ashamed that that's what my reaction was! i think that makes me a bad person...

[artee]

I feel that it is something you can't be sure of until you are in that situation. I agree that the docs would make that decision and say 'no' anyway. magicdice, It does not make you a bad person, simply an honest one.

[desertrat]

Yes I would. However, if I only had one kidney then I doubt that any surgeon would agree to remove it. I remember seeing a programme very similar to this question where both a mans sons had severe kidney  problems. He was only allowed to donate one of his healthy kidneys to one of his sons and they all had to decide who it would be. Needless to say this left him wracked with guilt at only being able to help one of them.  

[smudge]

I would do anything for the well being of our children or Grandchildren.

If I ony had one kidney, I would like to think that I could donate it & be on dialysis until a cure could be found for me. If it meant death, then I'd have to cross that bridge. It would be a terrible dilemma & difficult to say until you found yourself in this situation - which I hope none of us ever are. 

[newtron]

Of course!

[ICEMANSAV]

I only have one kidney so hope that situation does not arise! As some of my previous threads have indicated I am not a fan of children, but as pointed out by other AB members my attitude will probably change upon having them, and like to think I could find that courage. However as pointed out it is not an option as the doctors would not be able to perform this operation legally.

[acw]

MY gut reaction was - thank god the doctors wouldn't allow this.  I'm sure most parents are prepared to die for their children but it would depend.  The child would already be a teenager in this scenario, because otherwise your kidney would be too big (ok - perhaps the child could be 10 or so - I'm no medic, I'm just guessing). 

 

One factor may be the situation with the other parent, and the other children in the family.  e.g., if you're a single parent with three other kids, would you orphan your other kids (if their Dad is dead, or if he's alive I suppose you could say - abandon them) to save one?  Hmmm - tough call. 

[butter1]

my gut feeling would also be no.  Which is horrible... but I do not have children, so I guess I can't say until I have been put in that situation.

[ludwig]

Yes. When you become a parent, your whole perspective changes. The death of a child is just about the worst thing imaginable, and something you would do almost anything to prevent. butter1, I can virtually guarantee that you would feel the same if you were in that situation. Obviously I'm talking about normal loving parents here. I'm sure there are plenty of people who've had kids that they don't give a t0ss about.

[catra1]

i agree that the surgeon would not remove it even if you begged them to there is probably some ethical guidelines about it/ a medical lawyer would know..

[FP]

Yes without any hesitation.  I think you can only answer this question if you have children.  Before I had a child I wouldn't have understood how most parents always put their children first.

[newtron]

I don't have children but it seems very obvious to me.