Responses
bsop:
"organs and tissues for transplantation don't last that long after the clinical death of the host and that this opens up a very short window of opportunity for the transplantation procedure."
That's true, which is why they are not taken from the donor (who is on life support) until the last possible moment. Life support gives you a bigger window.
"How does one address things like tissue rejection testing with such little time?"
You don't. I believe that transplants match donor/recipient blood type only, not the myriad of other tissue types: you'd never get a match if you tried to do that. Anti-rejection drugs are used to make imperfect tissue matches work.
Anonymous Coward
"Right now, family members are allowed to override a person's wishes that their organs be transplanted. This is wrong."
I agree it is "wrong", but it is perfectly understandable in the circumstances. It is probably best addressed by having more transplant coordinators (as in Spain) rather than telling devastated relatives that you are going to take their loved one's organs regardless of their wishes.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
