The Pros And Cons Of Transplants

Synthesis Paper

In 1954, the first live donor transplant surgery in the United States occurred ("Our Flesh and Blood"). Since then, hundreds of thousands of lifesaving transplants have been successfully performed. Transplants have become a main factor in the controversy that scientists are pushing the bounds of nature too far. Fear of failed surgeries leads critics to oppose medical advancements, but it is not society’s place to interfere with saving lives. It is, however, the decision of the patient to take these risks proposed or not. Even with the risk of failed surgery, science and medical research must continue to advance in order for the human race to continue to thrive.

Advancements and medical research make it possible for miracles

Furthermore, negative long term effects after a transplant are mainly provoked by a patient slipping on necessary follow-up care. This is more prevalent in adolescents, which is 40 percent of approximately 2,000 pediatric transplants annually (Neergaard). The risks that critics fear are not in the hands of scientists or surgeons to control, rather the patient's responsibility to remain healthy. Meaning that limiting advances in science will not change this long term risk, it will only limit the lives that can be saved. Currently 116,000 people are on the waiting list (“Facts and Myths about Transplant”). On average 22 of these patients die waiting to reach the top of the list everyday. ("Through Organ Donation, A Heart Lives On.") When a patient is in need of a transplant their name is submitted to a list to wait for a donor organ. Many patients never receive these organs because other patients are above them on the list. The order of the list is based off of how critical the patient’s condition is. The number of daily deaths from this list overshadow the risks of negative effects or failed surgeries that worry critics. This number of daily deaths will continue to rise without transplants and the downfall of society will