Living Organ Donation? Not so fast! | Sigrid Fry-Revere | TEDxLafayetteCollege

Sigrid Fry-Revere discusses the pros and cons of live organ donation and the steps that must be taken before it is a valid option for all people.

Sigrid Fry-Revere is president and CEO of the American Living Organ Donor Network, a (501(c)(3) living organ donor support organization. She is also the president of the Center for Ethical Solutions, a patient care ethics think tank, and the ethicist on the Washington Regional Transplant Community’s Organ and Tissue Advisory Committee. Sigrid has been a TEDMED speaker, authored four books, and written hundreds of articles. Her most recent book is a popular non-fiction adventure story The Kidney Sellers: A Journey of Discovery in Iran. She received both her law degree and her Ph.D. in bioethics at Georgetown University. She lives on a farm in Northern Virginia where she and her husband Bob raised their four children.

[apparentlyayla]

I just donated my spare kidney to my husband 5 days ago. Our experience so far here at Yale New Haven is above and beyond. They took our case without a minute delayed.
This wouldn’t be all possible without lots and lots of prayers 🙏 as well.
Both donor and recipient teams at Yale is unbelievable.
We could have not picked a better Transplant Center 🇺🇸

[mindyklein]

I donated a kidney shortly before my 70th birthday. Best thing I ever did in my life. Luckily for my recipient - I didn’t see your negative video.

[nandinishah]

Donors need to receive donation related benefits. Paid leave, donation related expenses, job guarantee are basic things that would hinder people from donating. Living organ donors need to be protected, otherwise no one will take such a risk.

[kidneedonor]

I donated a kidney at age 60 to a stranger. From my experience I find your talk FAR too negative. I was back to work in 18 days and I do not have a desk job. My job involves being on my feet for 10 hours a day. I did avoid lifting more than 10 lbs for the first two months. My recipients insurance covered ALL medical bills and I had no complications. If a donor does receive medical bills it is a mistake. The hospital will correct it and you will not have to pay. I was told not to ever show my insurance card. My only expenses were time off work and out of pocket things like trips back and forth for testing. There already is a government program to assist with things like this but I didn't use it so I can't comment on it. I am opposed to donors being paid but I would like to see donors get paid time off for this. Donating my kidney was the best thing I have ever done.

[shawnsgirlever]

I’m in process of being a living donor! The receipant insurance pays plus I got my own HSA insurance and two short term disability programs. Then FMLA will keep my job open as I recover.

[desertrose]

Thank you so much for this food for thought. So far I've just seen videos that are "selling" me in the idea of donating. I'm skeptical of all the hype and seeking some honest data on risks and benefits. I don't think honesty will discourage me, but it will help me be better prepared.

[cmcampbell]

After being told I was not a match to my friend, it took 2 frustrating years (to the day) for me to finally donate to a stranger Ms. Fry-Revere is not being "way too negative"; she tells the truth about transplant centers not giving complete information on the potential cost to donors - especially if travelling any distance to the transplant center - and more realistic healing times. The friend I did not match had her travel expenses rejected by her insurance company - what was SHE supposed to do? She was at the end of dialysis being effective for her. Kidneedonor was very lucky.

[elizabethsantiago]

the hospital makes plenty of money on organ donations how about they reduce their profit and take care of people, isnt that the oath they take

[parler]

At least living donors can agree to donate or change their mind at the last minute.

[elainemk]

I agree, but equally important is getting people off the transplant list by getting them healthy. The diet and lifestyle of many of the people on the donor list is atrocious because the medical community has no clue about the food we should be eating to create health and reverse dis-ease! Also the diet and lifestyle of the people willing to donate isnt much better, which in turn could eventually lead to ill health due to having only one kidney after donation.

[sherrysims]

I donated a kidney to friend. Off work a year with long term effects. By the way my friend I donated to never hear a peep from.

[brianwaskiewicz]

How is all this changed in the last seven years?

[LazySaiyan]

I'm confused on what may motivate insurance companies to change. Seems like they would refuse and make more money with the current broken system.

[kabom]

That is what I was thinking. I mean I have gotten a kidney when I was 16 and then after 11 years when it failed I went on a list and after waiting 7 years got another and that one lasted 10. I always only got kidneys from people who had died feeling that if I got one from a living donor that what if their only remaining kidney failed down the road. Now I have come across stories of people who died but then came back to life just before they were to get their kidneys harvested. Also I have heard that they don't put pain killers because they are supposed to be dead but what if they are not and the docs are mistaken. I am currently on dialysis thinking about this. What should I do? Since I am in Canada and they pay for all the donors bills I think this time I will try to look for a living donor only.

[DanM-wu]

Please help me I am in ne Ed of a new organ soon myself

[Aging_Casually_Late_Gamer]

If people don't want to be living donors after getting educated about it or to just be a decent human being, we have a far bigger problem than unethical incentives.

[peanut]

Medical "treatment" destroys one Customer $$$, to Fix the other Customer $$$ for the Hospital $$$.

[JennyG.COW]

Geeze! It almost seems like living organ donation not worth it.
Maybe if USA Insurance companies helped support those who are donating, then more donations can be available and possible. Unfortunately the US Legal system may prevent this opportunity to happen (i.e. Americans like having more Independence than increased Government Programs.)

[chistinelane]

Maybe people need to stop destroying their organs?

[tommygirl]

Not at all what I was expecting to hear about, and pretty disappointing/discouraging. Not the way to get people to even talk about living organ donation, let alone think about becoming a living donor.