FDNY EMS Organ Transplant Unit.

[Portsmouth OH Fire Buff 8]

I saw on the news the other night (cant remember if it was CNN, MSNBC, FOX or what) that was talking about Organ Transplant Services and it showed what looked to be an FDNY EMS Organ Transplant Unit, is this correct or were my eyes playing tricks on me?

[Guest jcnyc]

My friend is in this new unit. It is stationed at Bellevue Hospital in the Murray Hill Section of Manhattan. It is basically a body snatcher unit. It is staffed with two EMT's a Doctor and a donor specialist and the premise behind it is to aid the harvesting of organs in a timely manner.

more info here: http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/insider/events/2010/120110a.shtml

[Guest Loud412]

From what ive been told its going to be Kidneys and Livers only. And the potential donor has to already be listed as an organ donor.

[Guest jcnyc]

Ill check and advise.

[ems-buff 81]

Am I reading this right, after the person dies, They are looking to retrieve the organs onsite in an ambulance...O_o....

[helicopper 1,050]

Am I reading this right, after the person dies, They are looking to retrieve the organs onsite in an ambulance...O_o....

It is to facilitate the transport of the crew to the donor and then the organs to the recipient. They do not do the harvesting in the vehicle, only in an approved medical facility.

As it's been explained to me, the whole purpose of the vehicle is to expedite transport.

[Guest AlexK]

It is to facilitate the transport of the crew to the donor and then the organs to the recipient. They do not do the harvesting in the vehicle, only in an approved medical facility.

As it's been explained to me, the whole purpose of the vehicle is to expedite transport.

They will also be performing CPR (with the aid of a "thumper") and pushing IV heparin to keep the organs oxygenated and viable. Not many people will fit the criteria for harvesting, but I'm glad they're giving it a try. Look at how many dialysis centers we have, the need is definitely there...

Edited December 11, 2010 by AlexK

[PEMO3 523]

If I have read correctly all the information that I have seen this unit is a glorified ME unit that keeps the patient on "life support" until such time as the organs are "harvested' and the "plug is pulled" with that being said the patient would have been pronounced prior to the intervention of this unit which makes it an interesting legal issue since if the patient is being kept viable for harvesting which is the true time of death.

[ny10570 745]

Seeing as how this has been in the works for two years and PD is involved with ensuring these deaths are natural before initiating removal I'm guessing that has been worked it out. I'm sure its no different than those lovely jobs where you get your terminate time only to have the hear pick up a rhythm and have to initiate transport to the ER.

[helicopper 1,050]

If I have read correctly all the information that I have seen this unit is a glorified ME unit that keeps the patient on "life support" until such time as the organs are "harvested' and the "plug is pulled" with that being said the patient would have been pronounced prior to the intervention of this unit which makes it an interesting legal issue since if the patient is being kept viable for harvesting which is the true time of death.

When resuscitation efforts stop and the MD makes the official pronouncement that is the time of death. Perfusing organs for harvesting is not considered resuscitative effort.

[PEMO3 523]

When resuscitation efforts stop and the MD makes the official pronouncement that is the time of death. Perfusing organs for harvesting is not considered resuscitative effort.

Chris while you and I are both smart enough to see it that way I can see the estate case coming where time of death is the difference in who gets the big money and some real slick lawyer will find a way to argue it differently. Something like if the heart is pumping that red stuff through those blood vessels and the blood was keeping the organs "alive" then the patient was not dead right right Dr X. Lets face it, it does create a gray area and lawyers love gray areas.

[efermann 28]

I read about this in the NY Times over the weekend. I believe it was in the Metropolitan section. Here's a link to the article on their website:

Organ Donation: Let the Market Rule?

The article doesn't go into too much detail about this program other than this will be a trailing vehicle and that this is a pilot program that has never been tested in another city. The rest of the article is interesting because it goes into the "economics" of organ donation. If nothing else, it's an ethical question that is sure to produce a wide range of reactions and opinions.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that some of the comments at the bottom of the article (at the time of this edit, there were 83) are interesting and probably just begin to touch the ethical questions that will be raised by this.

Edited December 13, 2010 by efermann