So being a young 36 year old I remember when snickers was a marathon, star burst were opal fruits and computers were something the rich had. The world is an amazing place, things develop far faster than maybe we are prepared for....but yet we take these things for granted, an expectation for the 'experts' to constantly deliver bigger and better and be quick about it. What we seem to fail at is the appreciation of what we have now.
Organ Donation is something none of us; especially those on the waiting list, family members or friends of those waiting for transplant take for granted. It is a tragedy and a gift all in one.
I woke up this morning to news on the radio that scientists have rid 37 pigs of virus this leading to a big break through where pig to human organ transplantation is concerned. Actual transplantation is still along way off and I am not sure how I feel about it, but this goes to prove how fast our world is moving.
Great post Chelle, and I just read the same article myself. I'm sure there will be a large reaction from those people who don't depend on transplants (or imagine they or their loved ones never will).
This is an amazing but ultimately inevitable breakthrough. Medical research doesn't stand still, it is always pushing for new ways to improve human life quality and longevity. Gone are the days where transplantation was seen by many as an abomination, I'm sure some still hold that view but I believe in general it's seen as major but life saving by most people.
And if this kind of transplantation becomes a viable way of saving lives there will be an initial reaction but peoples perceptions of what they find acceptable will change.
I genuinely believe that as a species we have "naturally" evolved as far as we can. Medicine and science is evolving us much more rapidly now, and that's how will progress.
I'm a big Sci fi fan and when I was in my teens I read "2001 A Space Odyssey" and this profoundly changed my view of how I thought about medicine, evolution and humanity.
"Space Odyssey is concerned about not only the evolution that has led to the development of humanity, but also the evolution that humanity might undergo in the future. Hence, we follow Bowman as he is turned into a Star Child. The novel acknowledges that evolutionary theory entails that humanity is not the end, but only a step in the process. One way this process might continue, the book imagines, is that humans will learn to move to robot bodies and eventually rid themselves of a physical form altogether."
I think your right in a lot of what you say. I have never read 2001 A Space Odyssey, maybe one for my hospital bag.
My view on animals being used for transplantation is maybe hypocritical and bias... I don't agree with Fur being used for clothes, but am more than happy to wear my leather boots, I don't agree with testing medicines on animals but happy that I know that what I take has been through the 'trials' (75% chance they have been tested on animals) and I don't believe we should harvest animals for our own benefit, but when it comes to me living a long and happy life with my family I could over look it....
I suppose I am a person that is disliked by vegetarians in particular; don't like the idea of an animal being killed but thoroughly enjoy my chicken roast, or burgers on a BBQ.
Your not wrong with the reactions coming on from the 'Jo Public' but at the same time would any of us agree with it if it didn't affect us be it ourselves or family members?
It is a conundrum and I think the phrase you are searching for is 'cognitive dissonance'. Needing to farm animals to eat has been going on for aeons and is accepted by most, but farming to harvest their organs is something new and completely different. The caring side for animals being overruled by the need for survival, an uncomfortable dilemma.
I'm glad it is probably a choice I'd never have to make, as I think it is still some time away.
Like, you I don't think it's a decision my family and I will ever have to make but it does spark and interesting thought for the future.
Cognitive Dissonance is something we all fall into surely, attitudes, beliefs all change with time; age, relationship, social situation. I think this is a good thing, changing with the times is something we all have to adapt to.
But harvesting animals for transplant I think your right is a very uncomfortable dilemma!
If you think about it harvesting animals for organs could be more of a necessity than for food. We can live without meat, and in fact there's evidence to suggest that eating meat is environmentally unsound.
And I would guess that many people that would have negative views about pigs organs have absolutely no problem with eating a bacon butty.
Personally I wouldn't eat meat if I wasn't prepared to kill it myself, which I would do and in fact have done, chickens, pheasants, fish and rabbits.
I disagree with fur because the idea of killing purely for fashion I find vulgar, but leather is a by product of food. I'm sure there would be a lot less leather if we didn't eat the animals.
Totally agree with you. It's just one of those things where we've 'always' eaten meat and rarely isnit questioned. It's more of something we might have to get used to rather than have the choice on!
I need a new liver to be able to live and enjoy my family and if it were a pigs lover I had then so be it.
I made a joke to my other half when we walked past a butchers and they had a massive Ox liver in the fridge, I suggested we take it on down to kings and ask them to fit it....this then lead to a similar conversation and we both agreed if it was needed to save a life then what does it matter where it came from. X
i rember mint cracknal an aztec bars an glees theirlike skittles now all the things we cant enjoy now hope you are all doing well i havnt been to good for a couple of days with stomach cramps an toothache .
To me if you die you don't need your organs and when you were alive they served you well so let them go on serving someone else it's not as if they want your soul that's in a much happier place.
Guyb, I don't think any of us on this site disagree that Organ Donation is important and I think we all fully support people putting there names down on the organ donor register.
I just think as medicine and the like are free in this country we should have an opt out register irrespective of next of Kin views And if raising pigs for transplants works go for it and please dont anyone bring up the offensive to Muslim argument
Guyb, I don't think anyone here is looking for a debate, and certainly not a religious one. I fully appreciate and understand why people don't want to be organ donors, but at the same time I am a huge advocate for it. I do believe that if it were that important to people they would opt out far quicker than they tend to opt in.
Some of my family are still questioning whether they should be organ donors, things that are no brainers to some can weigh heavy on others. Like RHGB said I think using animal organ for human transplant is a long way off and hopefully something I will never have to think about in my life time!
I totally agree with you. I can never understand how we have to abide by our loved one's Wills, but can over rule their wishes to provide their organs which they no longer require.
I get a bit aggravated at people who think this new development is wrong.
They have probably never been in the position of being about to lose a loved one, who then is saved by transplant.
He's absolutely right you know. It's somewhat hypocritical to have a problem with harvesting a life saving organ from a pig if you're happy to shove it on the BBQ.
I didn't realise I was rocking the boat haha. Doesn't everyone love bacon?! Obviously not the vegan, vegetarian and Muslim communities.
Seriously though, it would be amazing to have your life saved by a lovely little pig. I read something about it somewhere and I think instead of it being a full transplant, it's a large graft of their organ onto yours. So the piggy bit does the good work for you and your poorly bit just stays there feeling jealous!
lol I was only kidding about the rocking the boat. It's an interesting subject and I am pleased we've all had something to chat about other than being tired, scans and how long we've been on the waiting list....little banter never hurt anyone!
Although I have also read about traits from donor to recipient happening....I already snort when I laugh...don't think piggy ears would suit me 😝
And as for organ donation. I think it should be mandatory, like France has just put through (i read) Obviously some religious cases could opt out. But generally, if you haven't raised a serious objection, it should be assumed you will be a donor.
Totally disagree with mandatory. We are all individual human beings. The State does not own us and has no right to our body parts. It is a very dangerous rocky road you go down, when decisions like that are made. I can imagine the religion you are probably referring to, those that must not be upset. I can see an awful lot of people converting (in name only) just so that they maintain their rights.
I agree with you here Matt. I think it should be an opt out system. I think you would see less people opting out than you see sign the organ donor register. I appreciate religion/cultures and stuff but just as I don't judge for those that sign up I wouldn't judge if people opted out.
Just saying it's a bit naughty to tempt people into a post with the promise of chocolate and sweeties... don't try doing that with Haribo or we'll fall out. 😜
For starters it's got to be proper Turkish delight. Not Terry's. More the kind you'd have found handed out by witches in Narnia. And chocolate orange 🍊???? Only at Christmas 🎄
Chocolate oranges all year round. And I actually love Terry's Turkish delight! I've always been a love to malteasers..... don't feel to guilty chocolate covered air balls! 😊
Yea go for the opt out system. I know it's being considered in various places. Anyone who has a problem with it can opt out no probelm but then at least at lot of people who just never thought about it but were happy to do it, could be organ donors.
I saw one doctor in the states say how if everyone was registered there would be almost no wait list.
I read about the pig organ thing a few weeks ago, but they had not been born yet. We are a long road off this ever working since rejection is still an issue from human organs let along pig ones. I don't know how i feel about it, I guess for most people it would come down to something similar like the argument for testing on loads of animals to save one kid, would you do it? Most people don't like the idea of testing on animals but are thankful when the time comes that they benefit from it.
Hopefully we won't ever need to rely on this. I've read how they are 3D printing organs and spraying them with cells. Maybe we will be able to make organs and use that before we ever need to grow them in other animals.
Despite popular misconceptions, there are almost no religious rules against donating organs or receiving transplants. A few denominations ban these practices, and a few others have rules that are not models of clarity. But for most of mainstream Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism, organ donations and transplants are allowed and or even encouraged.
Pig to human transplant already has already been happening - normally as a stop gap prior to the receipt of a human organ. This article from 1992 - articles.baltimoresun.com/1...
Katie where you store all this knowledge and information is beyond me. Do you have a pensive like Dumbledore in Harry Potter where you store throughts and memories as your brain fills up? I know that pigs have been poked and prodded for a long time regarding human uses but I never knew they were used in that way before. Thank you.
'there are almost no religious rules against donating organs or receiving transplants'
That is not wholly true.
One particular religion is very shady over their wording, but basically, although they are allowed to donate organs, they won't in somewhere like Britain, because they have no control over who it is given to.
This is probably why Katie said 'almost' I looked at varying pages and as normal she's not wrong. There also seemed nothing to mention who should receive organ donation and some religions believe it to be a final journey if you like and others personal choice. I do find it all interesting.
I knew there was a reason I had a bacon sandwich for lunch, after this news Mrs Dulux wants to adopt a bloody pig.....I'm so far down the pecking order in our house I feel like baldrick from blackadder 😜
A really interesting post - an animal is an animal whether pig or human and a life is a life - roll on the day they can make organs in the lab, now that would be a really break through!
No your right but it is exactly what we or the farmers breed animal for.....the idea of eating animals for our own gain has been around so long it's rarely questioned now but organ donation pig to human will definitely cause some raised eye brows.....and probably from people that haven't been in a situation where either they or a loved on requires one x
I do think if you need a transplant then you need one and getting one is a blessing. Wish my hubby had been caught earlier and been given one, even from a pig I'd have taken it for him!
Agree. If we're happy enough to eat one then surely an organ is ok. It's doing a far better thing than filling someone's belly. Still I imagine it would take people a long time to come to terms with.
Better than the plot of the film "the island" were clone people are raised for their organs.
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