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Deal or No Deal for Organs?

Submitted by Scott Baker, Apr 3, 2007 12:06

With news this weekend of a breakthrough in growing heart valves from stem cells - and the researchers behind it saying it will be just 10 years before entire hearts can be regrown - perhaps we should be refocusing our priorities to regrowing organs (and limbs) from original tissue. After all, there is no chance of rejection from a donar's of cells, no need for immuno-suppresive drugs with their massive side effects; in children, they can stunt growth, in adults, they can open the door to life-shortening illnesses. As a side benefit, it would help the thousands of Iraq/Afghanistan veterans returing with damaged or missing organs and limbs.

Successful transplants of regrown corneas, ears, and bones have already been made. A few people have been stimulated to regrow parts of their damaged hearts too, and work is going on for every major organ and teeth.

Most people don't even know of the great progress in this area, nor about the need for more funding. So, before we get on the organ swapping bandwagon, perhaps we should not give up on emerging techologies to both prolong life, and enhance its value.

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
This is a great idea. Of course, you need a critical mass of people (well above the current 8,000 or... [MORE]	Dave Weiner	Apr 5, 2007 13:34
Conceptually, Lifesharers has a valid point -- if you're not willing to sign your donor card and declare that you... [MORE]	Steve Ferkau	Apr 4, 2007 11:49
I said "Deal!" as soon as I heard about LifeSharers. This idea has the simplicity of genius: If you promise... [MORE]	CATHERINE GREENE	Apr 3, 2007 21:37
With news this weekend of a breakthrough in growing heart valves from stem cells - and the researchers behind it...	Scott Baker	Apr 3, 2007 12:06
Conceptually, Lifesharers has a valid point -- if you're not willing to sign your donor card and declare that you... [MORE]	Steve Ferkau	Apr 3, 2007 11:31
Yes it costs nothing to donate an organ, but receiving one costs plenty. Poor people or underinsured people are routinely... [MORE]	Bill Dienstag	Apr 3, 2007 06:10
Assume that Mr. Dienstag is right about his facts. How is a poor person worse off by paying zero, which... [MORE]	David R. Henderson	Apr 3, 2007 12:53
Your point is a valid one -- but it applies far beyond organ donation... The poor and uninsured or underinsured... [MORE]	Steve Ferkau	Apr 4, 2007 12:02
Assuming Mr. Dienstag is right and continuing Mr. Henderson's thought -- that poor person may be able to raise the... [MORE]	Steve Ferkau	Apr 4, 2007 22:16
LifeSharers is a fantastic idea, a tribute to ingenuity and common sense in a civil society. For too long, we've... [MORE]	Lawrence W. Reed	Apr 3, 2007 04:24

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Deal or No Deal for Organs?