Can't afford burial and want to donate organs

[debra041599]

I cannot afford burial and want to donate my organs but am Hep C positive.  What are my options?  

[R Glass]

    “but what a romantic notion”
If Science won’t take it, I will. I’ll just throw it in the Microwave and warm it up every now and then. I’ll throw the rest in the Bon Fire but ain’t no since in letten it all go to waste

[lydel]

Thank you and Amen to that!

[Trinity4]

Lonesome Dove.  Captain W.F. Call hauled Gus's body from Montana to Texas just so Gus could be buried in the stream where he and Clara fell in love.
Poor old Gus, he went through some hell alive and dead not to mention the stench but what a romantic notion.  

Me, I'd opt for the bonfire and weenie roast or send me out on a ice-float.

Trin

[FlGuy]

Expense could be an issue.  It costs an arm and a leg to get in there.  Plus there's always the issue of toxic waste if a person was to pass on while still clinging to HCV.  Maybe just a good ol bonfire and weenie roast or a shove down the Ganges on a floating and burning funeral pyre.  

[Trinity4]

I think this is very interesting and from a personal standpoint I wouldn't have any problem with it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_farm

[paen53]

Bill,

I agree about the DL donor checking. I've worked at a funeral home for almost 20 years and sadly to say, it's the rare case that considers donation, HCV or not.

[Bill1954]

Hi Paen,

I looked for that file, and seem to have misplaced or tossed it finally; I was hoping to quote them verbatim. I seem to remember they said they frequently pass different components of the body to other facilities and were afraid of liability issues coming back at them later. I was in direct personal contact with one of the administrators there; I discussed the whole gamut including SVR, but their decision remained the same.

I suppose the likelihood of HCV RNA getting into their system is similar to commercial blood banks? And yes, they certainly should treat everything with universal precautions, no doubt.

If I locate that file later I’ll post the pertinent language here. I think I might have tossed it after a few years though.

I agree that donor livers from HCV positive patient that have been significantly damaged are unlikely to be recycled; I had stage 3-4 fibrosis, and my doctor said there wasn’t anything salvageable for donation in my case. However, I’d encourage anyone considering donation to check the donor box in their driver’s license anyway, and let the proper authorities determine organ viability.

--Bill

[FlGuy]

How bad is your liver? Have you been evaluated? Or, is it that you have been diagnosesd with HCV and are just doing some long-range planning.  Personally, I would not be too concerned about my funeral/disposal costs.

[paen53]

I think in the case of a sudden/accidental death that the liver of a HCV positive person may be considered for transplant for another HCV patient, but if the liver is diseased enough to cause death in the host, it won't even be considered.

Bill, interesting about the HCV denial. I was aware of C/J and one other rare disease that I can't recall now, but not about the HCV. I wonder if it's for safety issues? If so, I hope they treat each body with Universal precautions because I'd be willing to bet a patient with undiagnosed HCV slips through from time to time.

[Bill1954]

You might find it difficult to donate your body for research purposes if you are HCV antibody positive.

I applied to the University of California dead body donation program, and was denied both initially, as well as on appeal. There are four or five diseases that they won’t accept; HIV, HCV, Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease, and one or two others.

You might be able to donate a liver or other organs through UNOS to others infected with HCV. Be sure to call and verify all this; I’m only relating my own recent experiences—

--Bill

[HectorSF]

Dear Debra -

You can save up to 8 lives by donating your organs!!!

Question: Can You Be an Organ Donor If You Have Hepatitis?
Answer: Yes, you can! 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.

Who can become an organ donor?

All people - regardless of age - can be considered as potential organ donors. Each patient is considered individually after death has been declared. You simply must let your family know that your wishes are to become a donor. Sign an organ donor card and the Indiana Organ and Tissue Donor Registry, and let your family see that you support organ donation. This way, there will be no confusion regarding your wishes to donate.

Find info on your state's process to learn more about donating organs and/or tissues.

http://www.donatelife.net/CommitToDonation/

Best of luck!!!

Hectorsf

[paen53]

Like Jenn said, you can donate your body to research. At the time of death, your body is released to a school/research facility in your area. After a period of about a year, your cremated remains are returned to your family - all free of charge. You would need to sign a release ahead of time or make sure that your next of kin is aware of your wishes.

As for donating your liver, I think if liver disease is the cause of death that it would be rejected. This may hold true for the other organs since they would have been greatly stressed by the time of death. You may want to check with your local eye bank and donor program for their guidelines.

Also if the issue is cost for burial, most counties still provide for free burial/cremation if you meet the guidelines for income/assets. A call to your county HHS department will provide you with this info.

[lydel]

Today you may still be able to donate your organs as they are now considering using Hep C livers on patients needing a liver due to Hep C....check into the donor organization...you can google it.

[Susan_1a_CC]

Ditto what Jenn said.

[Jenn724]

you could donate your body to science, so that med students can see the disease effects and practice procedures.