Binge drinker dies at 22

Originally Posted by leedsmatt7

Not the doc's who've let him down its his family who should be ashamed. They knew their 11 year old son was drinking and heavily from 13!?! They should have done more to help him then the whole thing could have been avoided.

Good answer.

I think the hospitals desicion was correct. That liver should go to someone suffering from a liver disease incured through no fault of their own, it shouldnt immediatly go to a person who has pretty much destroyed their own liver.

Originally Posted by leedsmatt7

Not the doc's who've let him down its his family who should be ashamed. They knew their 11 year old son was drinking and heavily from 13!?! They should have done more to help him then the whole thing could have been avoided.

I dont often blame parents, as its seen as the easy way out etc but they broke up and obviously didnt take much notice of anyone else after that point. I'd be interested to know how well adjusted the 19yr old is.

Very judgemental Matt. How do you know that his parents didn`t take much notice of anyone else after they`d split up?? I have a friend who has done everything within her and her husbands power to help their son through alcohol abuse. What do you do though when your son is lying on the floor crying and shaking and begging for just one drink? They had an injunction served on him to stay away from their home and now as a last resort to help him their son is in prison as he couldn`t stay away from them. How do you think they feel having put their son in prison? how do you think they would feel hearing a negative comment such as "they obviously didn`t take much notice of anyone else"?

Thoughtless words Matt... maybe in some situations they are relevant but not in all.

Everyone deserves a second chance and I feel everyone has a right to life. I think the hospital ruling regarding the ethics of transplant in this case could have been overlooked (as the ethics committee have the power to do).

This guy was unable to prove he couldn`t live outside of the hospital environment for 6 months without alcohol as he was too poorly to be outside of the hospital environment. He signed up for Alcoholics Anonymous and 2 days later was admitted to hospital.

I feel that with alcohol being sold at "pocket money" prices together with the UK`s lax alcohol laws it`s not surprising that young people are drinking to excess and I think that sadly we`ll be seeing a lot more of these cases.

the whole point of this being in the news is that the system is fundeamentally flawed,

He had no chance to prove he could stay off the booze after he was told his liver was shot as he was too ill to leave the hopsital, its like the doctors went... HA HA... pointed and walked off.. I feel for there loss but no system will ever be perfect.

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by Speedy Claire

I feel that with alcohol being sold at "pocket money" prices together with the UK`s lax alcohol laws it`s not surprising that young people are drinking to excess and I think that sadly we`ll be seeing a lot more of these cases.

I agree with that point.

However, in the case in question, I think it was the right decision not to give him the transplant. I am a little uneasy about the fact the guy was too ill to have the chance to prove he could live without alcohol for 6 months, but in the end I think this rather proves that he would be unable to live without alcohol - by being so dependant he was seriously ill before signing up for AA and seeking help (AFAIK from reports).

Originally Posted by 454697819

its like the doctors went... HA HA... pointed and walked off..

That's the most ill-considered comment I've read on here for quite a while.

Claire, I agree with everything you say.

FFS this lad was only 22 years old. The decision condemned him to a certain death. I suppose that there will always be hard cases but in my opinion this lad's young age is a very significant factor.

[Bri w]

Originally Posted by Jabba

That's the most ill-considered comment I've read on here for quite a while.

Spot on!

I've worked in the Acute Care Areas for years and know exactly how 99% of Clinicians feel when they make these decisions. I've seen the tears in the tea room afterwards. And i've made decisions that have restricted care, and i remember all those decisions like it was yesterday. And i've attended Coroner's court, and listened to the relative's distress. Believe me, there is definitely no "Ha Ha" involved.

A warm mug of Horlicks and a lie down required.

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by Ed

The decision condemned him to a certain death.

True, but you could also argue that his own decision to start drinking at 11 and drinking heavily at 13 also did the same thing. Every action has a consequence, cheap booze, rubbish system you cant blame any of those, its the fault of the person who puts the bottle to their lips IMHO.

Never an easy decison certainly, but whats to say that he wouldnt have stayed off the alcohol once presented with a new liver, you could argue that giving a liver or another organ to anybody with a history of substance abuse might possibly be a waste of that new liver.

The only people who can know all the facts are those that made the decision, and I'm darn well glad its not one I have to make.

Originally Posted by 454697819

the whole point of this being in the news is that the system is fundeamentally flawed,

He had no chance to prove he could stay off the booze after he was told his liver was shot as he was too ill to leave the hopsital, its like the doctors went... HA HA... pointed and walked off.. I feel for there loss but no system will ever be perfect.

from what i read he did indeed have the chance. he was told he had to stay off it for 6 months before being considered which he didnt or couldnt do. therefore, its my opinion that in this instance the correct decision was made. why give a healthy liver to somebody who cannot show they have the strength and will power to not abuse the gift of a second chance they've been given and destroy it once more.

if my child was waiting a liver and this guy gets it, i learn later that he's destroyed it again i aint gonna be happy.