NYC is considering equipping a new ambulance to preserve bodies until families can be contacted about possible organ donation. USA Today said crews would also perform procedures to preserve a person’s organs until the family had time to decide on giving consent for donation.
Development of the Rapid Organ Recovery Ambulance began after families said they were unable to donate their loved ones’ organs in cases of sudden death. The newspaper said an estimated 22,000 people each year don’t get considered for organ donation because they died outside a hospital.
Performing procedures without consent is expected to be controversial.
ABC News says that New York City plans to start the service rolling within a month. And the plan, which has already received federal funding, is being eyed as a possibility by other emergency medical departments. Additionally, ethicists and emergency medicine experts are raising concerns about the project.
(ABC / USA Today)
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4 Responses
By the time NYC ambulances show up too a scene there would be no body to preserve
What will the halocho be in this case,when there is no time to ask?Will Hatzolo be able to prevent the against-halocho activity
HaIkar Chaser (the main point is missing):
According to Halachah, organ donation is prohibited, as it is Assur (forbidden) to remove parts of a dead body.
Also, no details are provided about the “procedure” and whether or not it is Halachically permitted.
Yes, I am in emergency medicine and have some serious problems with this, namely that the medics should not have the authority to declare someone dead which would be necessary to have them institute this.
Yes, organs from these ppl would save a lot of lives but I can’t tell you how many times we’ve had medics say “this one’s cold” (meaning dead) and a little levo/dopamine and they are alive with a bp and heart rate, and yes, some do fully recover.
I have concerns about this policy, as should many others….