[citw150] CITW 150 L3 Q4
- From: Robin Mingus <mingusrobin@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: citw150@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 17 Feb 2007 12:40:18 -0800 (PST)
Fellow classmates,
This one has been around for years! What's funny is that this was a myth long
before the internet. Please read this myth thoroughly, it is unfortunate that
ignorance is cutting off support to those who really need transplants. I know
of two people who have had transplants, I thank God every day for this
wonderful scientific breakthrough. You can read about this for yourself at:
http://www.nonprofit.net/hoax/default.htm. At the bottom of the home page,
click on more hoaxes to take you to this article.
Transplant and organ donation myths
As with any new technology, rumors, myths and misunderstandings about organ
transplantation are wide spread. Frustration produced by the high cost, the
effect of the organ donor shortage, and the unavailability of transplantation
throughout most of the rest of the world have probably contributed to this.
Since rumors can often be more entertaining than the truth, tabloid media will
often pick up and help spread them, despite the great harm they cause. Urban
legends about organ transplantation are uniquely dangerous since organ
transplantation can not succeed without the participation and support of the
majority of the population. Bad press, urban legends, even fiction portraying
organ transplantation as somehow evil, all have prevented full support for
donation and led to the death of people who might otherwise be leading
productive and happy lives now.
Another factor fueling the proliferation of myths is the unfortunate
institution in India of payment for unrelated live kidney donation that preys
on the poor in that country. While it may be true that the Indian medical
community is not required to abide by western standards of ethics, neither is
the US medical community required to interact with them, train their
physicians, publish their research, etc. Its past time that the US medical
community started taking visible responsibility for influencing transplantation
ethics in foreign countries.
Mani, M.K., Renal Transplantation in India. (1992) Transplantation Proceedings,
24:1828-9.
Kott, Andrea., Organ Procurement Programs in State of Emergency. Medical World
News
Feb 1992, v33n2, p. 15-16
The black market myth:
In all the time that the rumors of a black market, kidnapping and murder of
children, organ-swiping, and other atrocities have been circulating (since at
least 1982), there has never been any evidence to substantiate any of them.
"Your potential is a great deal better than anyone will ever permit you to
believe" L. Ron Hubbard
Robin Mingus
Lansing, Michigan
mingusrobin@xxxxxxxxx
____________________________________________________________________________________
Looking for earth-friendly autos?
Browse Top Cars by "Green Rating" at Yahoo! Autos' Green Center.
http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center/
Other related posts:
