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In reply to the discussion: I can't believe this: To get on Heart Transplant list, one needs to be nicotine free 6 months. [View all]OwnedByCats
(805 posts)She's only 21, she doesn't have this heart condition because of her smoking, it was hereditary. She's not been an alcoholic for the last 30 years and needs a liver. She's been nicotine free for 40 days, that should show them she's serious. What's wrong with putting her on the list, testing her regularly while she waits? One might say "why give her a heart if she smokes?". That's ridiculous. Anyone can lead an unhealthy lifestyle after a transplant, there is nothing you can do about that. Are we to suspend transplants in case it's "wasted"? Sometimes transplants are wasted because the body rejects that organ, sometimes leading to the death of the person getting the transplant. It's just how it goes. There are no guarantees with transplants.
If more people donated their organs, this would be less and less of an issue.