The Link Between Self-Driving Cars And Organ Donation

[hayleyrm]

I'm an organ donor and have been for many years now. As have all my friends and family. Registering as an organ donor, as far as I can tell, seems to be the done thing now - especially as policy change across the world gradually sees more national 'opt-out' organ donation models. I assumed shrinking transplant waiting lists.

But then I came across this article:

http://careers.imhgroup.net/link-self-driving-cars-organ-donation/

While there are apparently more donors, according to this article there may well be fewer actual donations thanks to medical advancements.

I guess my question is WHAT IS THE ANSWER? WHAT WILL BECOME OF US?

I'm just curious about where we're up to in terms of growing organs, prosthetics, animal transplants, lifespan, etc. Will the donor register become obsolete in the future? How do we manage this shortage?

Thoughts - in response to my questions, and miscellaneous - are muchly welcomed.

Thanks in advance!

Edited January 11, 2017 by hayleyrm

[fiveworlds]

fewer actual donations thanks to medical advancements. ​

 

 

Think about it the organs of most people that die in car crashes aren't viable when they get to the hospital anyway.

[imatfaal]

 

 

Think about it the organs of most people that die in car crashes aren't viable when they get to the hospital anyway.

 

Do you have any data on that? I think you might be very wrong

[fiveworlds]

Do you have any data on that?​

 

 

Certain organs only last a few hours right? Not all crashes happen when an ambulance is free or near a hospital. Some organs do last longer yeah however if we can save the person in the car from dying then why shouldn't we? Not every transplantee survives the operation.

 

Better yet look at the benefits of self-driving cars.

 

Say you are at home alone and have a heart attack or whatever. Instead of having to call an ambulance because you don't trust your driving or there is a lack of ambulances the car can drive you to the hospital.

Edited January 11, 2017 by fiveworlds

[Prometheus]

The best organs come from road traffic accident victims. The ideal donor is someone with brain stem death and a body full of young healthy organs. Seatbelts and helmets saw a significant drop in the number of organs donated.

 

By the way, as it stands in the UK at least, make sure your family understand you are an organ donor. Many individuals have their desire to be organ donors over-ruled by distruaght family.

[hayleyrm]

 

 

Think about it the organs of most people that die in car crashes aren't viable when they get to the hospital anyway.

 

As Prometheus says, I've been led to believe that car crash victims are very often used to harvest organs for donation... it does make sense that they should derive from accidents rather than people who have passed away from illness, that's for sure. That said, I can't find anything to substantiate the idea, as widely accepted as it seems.

 

 

The best organs come from road traffic accident victims. The ideal donor is someone with brain stem death and a body full of young healthy organs. Seatbelts and helmets saw a significant drop in the number of organs donated.

 

By the way, as it stands in the UK at least, make sure your family understand you are an organ donor. Many individuals have their desire to be organ donors over-ruled by distruaght family.

 

I didn't know about the correlation between seat belts and helmets... where did you find that? Would be interested to read further.

 

You have a point about reduced pressure on ambulance services, fiveworlds. The safety of self-driving cars is still a bit up in the air, but I think the consensus is that they'll save a fair amount of lives (as represented here by Slate: http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2016/12/self_driving_cars_will_exacerbate_organ_shortages.html).(With the alternative suggestion that there's still a long way to go represented by the Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jul/05/tesla-crash-self-driving-car-software-flaws).

 

However, getting to the hospital is no use if, when you get there, they're starved of necessary resources. I understand that transplant lists are a real problem, and growing...

[Prometheus]

I didn't know about the correlation between seat belts and helmets... where did you find that? Would be interested to read further.

 

It's been while. Could only find this one, should get you started.

[LizW12]

There will definitely be a major need for organs in the next 20-40 years with the rise of self-driving cars.

[Endy0816]

Organ printing might be more of a thing by then.

[iNow]

There will definitely be a major need for organs in the next 20-40 years with the rise of self-driving cars.

I don't follow this logic. Will you please elaborate so I may understand your point?