Kidney Debate

You have been assigned to a Medical Decisions Board for a university

hospital. Today, your decision involves a very common dilemma; one kidney
and four patients in complete renal failure, all in need of a kidney
transplant.

All of the following patients are compatible recipients for the kidney to be
transplanted. The kidney donor was a 17-year-old male who was killed in a
car crash. The parents of the deceased donor had mentioned that they would
prefer the kidney to go to someone around their sons age.

Name, Age Renal Other Financial Social Factors

and Status Medical Status
Occupation Factors
Mary Dialysis: 15 Arthritis $46,000/y Has 6 grown kids, all
Greaves years Hypertensio r supportive.
55 Transplant n Husbands
Housewife waiting Overweight benefits Husband is reformed
list: 7 years Overall will cover alcoholic with stable income
health Poor 70% of and in good health, age 60.
cost.
Celine Dialysis: 1 Takes Net worth High profile patient would
Nelson year prescription bring much media attention
30 Transplant drugs to 20 million to the medical center.
Famous Pop waiting manage dollars
Star list: 6 knee injury No Potential exists for financial
months Overall insurance gain for the medical center,
health Fair publicity
for organ donations.
Gary Puckett Dialysis: 2 Regularly Parents: Father is in the military and
19 years smokes $120,000 had a rough childhood due
College Transplant marijuana /yr to the fact he was
Student waiting and Blue constantly moving.
list: 9 consumes Cross/Blu
months alcohol e Studying to become a
Overall Shield doctor.
health
Good
Gerald Ford Dialysis: 7 Works out 4 $25,000/y Has 14-year-old son and 16-
43 years times a r year old daughter both in
Auto Transplant week and Managed school and who both live at
Mechanic waiting enjoys care will home.
list: 2 years running cover
marathons 50% Wife died of Leukemia in
Overall of costs 1995.
health
Excellent

Who do you think should get the kidney?