A Modern Miracle?
Thursday 26 July
19.00-20.30
Organ transplants have been hailed as a medical miracle of the 20th century but they are not without controversy. This event brought together three guests to have a frank discussion on issues including the diagnosis of death and the shortage of donated organs.
Redefining the criteria used to diagnose death from one based on cessation of the heartbeat to one based on cessation of brain function proved so controversial in Japan that it took approximately 30 years for legislation to be agreed. Cadaveric organ donation was only then legalised in 1997.
The panel discussed the unwillingness to donate life-saving organs. Despite the transplant of donated organs being seen in a positive light, demand far outstrips supply in most countries. In Europe only Spain has relatively short waiting lists for people waiting for a life saving transplant.
This event brought together a surgeon, a psychologist and a transplant recipient to discuss the myths and realities of heart transplants.
Speakers
Stephen Large, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Papworth Hospital
Tracy Long, psychologist, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Southampton
John Fisher, British Heart Foundation ambassador and transplant patient
Facilitator
Sara Abdulla, Chief Commissioning Editor, Nature
Stephen Large
A cardiothoracic surgeon at Papworth Hospital, Stephen trained in London, Cambridge and Alabama. He is interested in heart failure, its surgery and its measurement, with a particular interest in the human heart for transplantation and strategies for the interventional management of severe heart failure. In addition, he is fascinated by health care management viewed before and after an Open University MBA. He currently acts as sub-dean to the University's medical school for cardiology and respiratory services.
Tracy Long
After completing general and paediatric nurse training, Tracy specialised in paediatric intensive care at Great Ormond Street Sick Children's Hospital, London. After 15 years in nursing, she completed degrees in psychology and health psychology, and spent five years undertaking clinical work and research as a transplant psychologist at Harefield Hospital, Middlesex, UK. She has spent the last six years as a researcher investigating issues related to organ and tissue donation, organ retention and end-of-life decision making. In 2004 she was awarded a two-year fellowship by the School of Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Southampton to complete a PhD looking at the development of the diagnosis of death, based on brain criteria, and how the concept of brain-stem death is viewed, understood and synthesised by family members who have been approached about organ donation.
John Fisher
In 1995 John had a heart operation to replace a faulty aorta valve; sadly his heart was already too damaged for this new valve to help. Due to cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart) he was put on the heart transplant waiting list in December 1999. He received his donor heart on 30 July 2000 and met his donor family in August 2001. Since the transplant he has completed 11 marathons, three triathlons and cycled 1000 km across part of Africa. This year he also plans to take part in the London Triathlon.