You or the 10 year old. Who lives?

[davidmash]

Not sure who saw this on the news but it it got me thinking. In a nut shell, there is a 10 year old girl who has CF. According to her doctors she has a few weeks left to live if she does not get a lung transplant.

The way I understand this is that since she is under 12 years old she does not qualify for an adult donation even thought the donation would work. She can only get another childs lungs. The only way she could get lungs from an adult is if all the adults in the region who are eligible for the lungs are either rejected or they pass. Whether they are more or less critical is not relevant.

So my question is if you were on the list for needed a pair of lungs would you pass or would you take them. To make it the same for everyone, lets say that the doc has said you probably (no guarantee) have 6-9 months to live with out a transplant. No guarantees another pair of lungs will come up if you pass on this pair. We will assume that if you pass, all others will pass as well and the child will get the lungs. Everything else is your life as it is now, age, family, kids, spouse... etc.

I am 47, married with no kids. Talking about this with my wife she said I take the lungs. I said I do not think I could and look my self in the mirror knowing that by my taking a pair of lungs at 47, a 10 year old child died. I do not think I could do that.

I was asking a few people I know and my theory is that people who are a bit older are a bit more likely to pass and that those who are younger, have young children are more likely to take the lungs. I understand both POV's