Surgeon Accused of Speeding a Death to Get Organs

[Bouncer]

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — On a winter night in 2006, a disabled and brain damaged man named Ruben Navarro was wheeled into an operating room at a hospital here. By most accounts, Mr. Navarro, 25, was near death, and doctors hoped that he might sustain other lives by donating his kidneys and liver.

But what happened to Mr. Navarro quickly went from the potentially life-saving to what law enforcement officials say was criminal. In what transplant experts believe is the first such case in the country, prosecutors have charged the surgeon, Dr. Hootan C. Roozrokh, with prescribing excessive and improper doses of drugs, apparently in an attempt to hasten Mr. Navarro’s death to retrieve his organs sooner.

Full Story: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/27/us...nt.html?ref=us

[Bouncer]

Not sure how I feel about this. On the one hand, if the guy is definitely going to die, I guess its best to speed up the process in order to try and save other lives.

On the other hand, I would want the surgeons to do everything they could to save my loved one and if I knew they didn't, I would be pretty angry.

[goliath]

Not sure how I feel about this. On the one hand, if the guy is definitely going to die, I guess its best to speed up the process in order to try and save other lives.

On the other hand, I would want the surgeons to do everything they could to save my loved one and if I knew they didn't, I would be pretty angry.

my thoughts exactly. it's a tough call....

[hitmansb]

If the guy's a registered organ donor, and he had NO chance to survive...then you have to figure he's have wanted the surgeon to make that call.

[Bouncer]

If the guy's a registered organ donor, and he had NO chance to survive...then you have to figure he's have wanted the surgeon to make that call.

the question is, did he have "NO" chance to survive.

[Shibby]

If the guy's a registered organ donor, and he had NO chance to survive...then you have to figure he's have wanted the surgeon to make that call.

That's the whole reason people are afraid to put "organ donor" on their license. People always wonder if the surgeon will make a decision to harvest before a radical attempt at saving the life.

[FitnessBrat]

That's the whole reason people are afraid to put "organ donor" on their license. People always wonder if the surgeon will make a decision to harvest before a radical attempt at saving the life.

EXACTLY - and they always say "oh they never think like that" blah blah blah...

[Mr I]

the problem is if this is ok where do you draw the line. I mean most people aged 85 are gonna die soon so should we just wack them all to save on state costs?, speeds things up and saves money

[Stonecold54]

the problem is if this is ok where do you draw the line. I mean most people aged 85 are gonna die soon so should we just wack them all to save on state costs?, speeds things up and saves money

yes :evil:

[caged]

do you guys think this is sorta like a "dr.death" case?

[FitnessBrat]

do you guys think this is sorta like a "dr.death" case?

Are you talking about Kevorkian? If so, then no, not at all. Those people ASKED to die - they were terminally ill and suffering.

[Bouncer]

Are you talking about Kevorkian? If so, then no, not at all. Those people ASKED to die - they were terminally ill and suffering.

agreed, nothing like this.

[Timber]

It does set a really bad president. This is 1 of those places where you really need to draw the line on procedure and not leave it too vague. I don't think it is a good idea to take into consideration that the person is going to die before they actually do. Now if we are talking about people that state the they want no resuscitation, feeding tube or anything to extend there lives might be taken into consideration. I have a problem with the good of the many outweighs the good of the 1 approach on this. I too am 1 of the people that will not fill out a donor card especially with my health being extremely good in particular my heart that is very valuable especially to me. I think if someone needs it bad enough and they have enough money they will get it anyway but I will not make it easy for them