Letter: Organ donors deserve our heartfelt thanks

Tuesday, April 25, 2000 | 9:27 a.m.

My friend is alive; someone else's friend is dead. Gratitude cannot erase that family's loss, but thank you. My indebtedness also extends to the highly trained surgical team who sacrificed to develop the skills to transplant organs, the system of organ transplantation, the pilots, nurses, clerks, administrators, laboratory technologists, pharmacists, and many, many others -- and to a society where parents, educators, clergy, and others teach of sacrifice and selflessness.

Unfortunately, many people die while waiting for organs, and the financial cost of such technology limits it to those who have generous insurance, giving neighbors, or personal wealth. I am saddened that Hollywood, some professional athletes and politicians teach less of sacrifice and selflessness.

Just as the victim's family made difficult choices, we also need to choose. We can inform our families of our wishes to be donors and make it legally easier to do so. The public and institutions can find new ways to finance transplants.

Vaccines against liver killers like hepatitis B should be administered more widely, and risk behaviors contributing to virus transmission should be avoided. Many liver, kidney, or heart diseases cannot be prevented, but caring for our own body parts is easier than caring for someone else's. Like the joy and sorrow of both families, there is both hope and concern for organ transplantation; the system can be better.

May we have the courage to choose to give and give thanks to those who do.

DR. JOSEPH CRAMER

Vice president of Medical Affairs, HealthInsight