Yes, We Can Donate Organs Even If We Have Hep C.

[jmjm530]

This topic has come up from time to time, yet still the confusion exists.

As an important topic that could potentially save lives, I hought maybe the correct answer deserved it's own thread title as sometimes the correct answer gets buried within a thread that not everyone takes the time to read.

So again, anyone with Hepatitis C -- acute or chronic -- can be an organ donor. What we cannot do is to donate blood. An entirely different topic.

Here's an article that Mike Simon just posted in a current thread on same topic:

"...Some people think that having hepatitis means that they can't be an organ donor. This is a myth. People can still be an organ donor and have acute or even chronic hepatitis.

Organ donation is a tremendous act of kindness, and there is a great need for organ donors of all ages. In fact, there is no age limit. Even if your liver isn't in good enough shape for donation, perhaps other organs and tissues could be used by someone else.

Here are examples of organs, in addition to the liver, that can be used: heart, intestines, kidneys, lungs and pancreas. In addition, certain tissues can also be used: bones, corneas, sclerae, tendons and certain veins.

There are, however, diseases that will prevent organ donation. Examples of two relatively common diseases include being HIV positive and having actively spreading cancer."


From: http://hepatitis.about.com/od/questions/f/OrganDonor.htm

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[mikesimon]

I understand and respect your reluctance to be a donor. I would, however, suggest that you allow a doctor to determine if any of your organs are suitable for transplantation. As to "your very resistant strain of hep c" I think the host plays a major role in the response to the virus and it's possible that another host might respond differently than you have. The doctors who make these decisions are transplant hepatologists and surgeons and the patient always has the choice to refuse the organ. My opinion is, of course, somewhat biased because I have benefited from transplantation and along the way I have been extremely impressed with the doctors involved. As a result I might be more inclined than most to defer to their judgment regarding the suitability of organs for transplantation.
Mike

[jomcc2011]

Thank you for that information.  I am undetected now at 2 months end of treatment and was worried that I would have to remove my organ donor status from my license when I renew.  I will let it remain as it stands now that I know.

[heart_in_the_keyes]

If this information holds true...we can't donate blood...but we can donate organ that contain blood cells?....then everyone in the comment lines of being a donor need to fess up to having HCV and stop being so d_ _ _ backwards about it.  In the state I live in they will not use organs from auto accidents or motorcylce accidents....the board of health in Indiana monitors all HCV patients....it's against the law even to start a relationship in this state without divulging the info that you have HCV...don't know...as someone who is on a tp list I really have questions on this...

Even in the article touted about it says "The issue of transplanting organs from HCV-positive donors has particular relevance in that population of liver transplant patients, he said, but the long-term consequences and outcomes had not been carefully studied."  

How many of you out there rah-rah-rahing this opinion are sitting on a tp list???? And how many of the many of you who don't even want to tell fellow friends or co-workers, which is stupid because this disease will never get the attention it needs with everyone who has it standing in the shadows...how many of you will be advocates and fess up on that donor card, your wills, your power of attorney, etc.????