Wow, Dick Cheney gets a heart transplant

[evanrick]

Dick Cheney....something something something...he then turned into a bat and flew away....with a new heart.

 

[rareboy]

I must also say that I am surprised he didn't just rip one right out of some poor guy's chest.

I hope the actual donor was a hardcore Democrat.

 

[Kulindahr]

Last year there were 2,300 heart transplants, 332 of which were for people Cheney's age. The majority of the rest were aged 50-64. Recipients of donated organs are matched to their donors through a number of factors, none of which will be the same for every recipient.

In other words, there is a very, very high likelihood that if Cheney had not taken the heart, it would have gone to waste.

Possibly. But from my understanding of the process, it's very much a standard triage approach, so if anyone else qualified for this heart, he/she must have been judged less in need than Cheney.

I just don't understand why they didn't leave him with the mechanical toy.

 

[JB3]

^ I disagree. Despite those numbers, none of them prove this particular heart would have "gone to waste" had Dick Cheney not taken it.

There's nothing to disagree with. The process works as it does for a reason. The fact that Cheney got a heart tells you 1) There were no other matches for this particular heart, and 2) Cheney's condition was poor enough that he had priority over others on the list. If you come to any other conclusion, you're ignoring how the transplant lists work.

 

[CowboyBob]

There's nothing to disagree with. The process works as it does for a reason. The fact that Cheney got a heart tells you 1) There were no other matches for this particular heart, and 2) Cheney's condition was poor enough that he had priority over others on the list. If you come to any other conclusion, you're ignoring how the transplant lists work.

Do you know how the transplant "list" works?

Donated organs do not go to waste. Whenever an organ becomes available, there are two to three patients called for that particular organ. It goes to the person who's blood and tissue type match is the best for the organ. Sometimes an organ will go to someone who is worse off and a poorer match, omitting a recipient who may be a better match.

Considering Cheney was on the list for 20 months (as he says), it's doubtful he was favored over someone else. But knowing his advanced age and how they don't usually give someone a new heart to someone who is generally unhealthy and over 70 like he is, I have my suspicions. Hey after all, it is Dick Cheney.

However, if this heart doesn't take and he gets another, I'm 100% sure he was favored. Money and power has it's advantages.

 

[JB3]

Do you know how the transplant "list" works?

Donated organs do not go to waste. Whenever an organ becomes available, there are two to three patients called for that particular organ. It goes to the person who's blood and tissue type match is the best for the organ. Sometimes an organ will go to someone who is worse off and a poorer match, omitting a recipient who may be a better match.

Doesn't work like that Bob. The match is the most important part of the process besides the patient's health, and a patient will never get a heart that they're a poor match with, even if they're next door to the hospital, especially so for critical organs like the heart. (They will not risk the heart on a poor match, because odds are high that will be rejected)

Considering Cheney was on the list for 20 months (as he says), it's doubtful he was favored over someone else. But knowing his advanced age and how they don't usually give someone a new heart to someone who is generally unhealthy and over 70 like he is, I have my suspicions. Hey after all, it is Dick Cheney.

However, if this heart doesn't take and he gets another, I'm 100% sure he was favored. Money and power has it's advantages.

Not on the transplant list it doesn't. And Cheney wouldn't be eligible again under the current rules.

Oh, and the median length for waiting for heart transplants is 113 days, which is obviously far shorter than how long Cheney was waiting.

 

[CowboyBob]

Doesn't work like that Bob. The match is the most important part of the process besides the patient's health, and a patient will never get a heart that they're a poor match with, even if they're next door to the hospital, especially so for critical organs like the heart. (They will not risk the heart on a poor match, because odds are high that will be rejected)


Not on the transplant list it doesn't. And Cheney wouldn't be eligible again under the current rules.

Oh, and the median length for waiting for heart transplants is 113 days, which is obviously far shorter than how long Cheney was waiting.

Yes it does work like that. At least it does with the transplant services at Davita, RKDP and the HCMC Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis who I've been associated with for 30 years.

Added:

Thought I should add the transplant patients I've dealt with who have had transplants for kidneys, heart, heart and lung, pancreas and liver all agree. But then I guess what do I know? I'll ask a 20-something about it on a gay internet site.

 

[JB3]

Yes it does work like that. At least it does with the transplant services at Davita, RKDP and the HCMC Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis who I've been associated with for 30 years.

Added:

Thought I should add the transplant patients I've dealt with who have had transplants for kidneys, heart, heart and lung, pancreas and liver all agree. But then I guess what do I know? I'll ask a 20-something about it on a gay internet site.

The rules and regulations governing transplants, which all hospitals in the US are required to follow, don't agree with what you're saying. So who's lying: you, or the US Government?

 

[CowboyBob]

Oh no one's lying, It's just that you don't know what you're talking about. Your claim of organs going to waste is nonsense. And if you don't think that Dick Cheney's status didn't have influence, then we'll add naive to your resume.

 

[bike10]

As Republicans like express there hate of health care. Bet Cheney had this paid by the tax payers? Did they check out donor? Did they give Dick a penis transplant for extra speicl for $99.00?