June 2, 2007

I waited a few days before commenting on this story so that more of the facts surfaced, now for my perspective.

Summary

For those of you not in the loop, in North America, USA specifically, there is a new demon created by the media, no, it isn’t the leader of some rogue country, this time, it’s a citizen who traveled abroad with a highly infections and deadly strain of Tuberculosis (XDR-TB) and then returned causing the sparks to fly across the country with some people even calling for his execution!

Summary: A little deeper

Based on the above, people are in an uproar, some are SO quick to judge! But consider that his doctor told him it was fine for him to travel (by plane) and he had no idea how infectious his condition was, the media should give this guy a break! There are far worse things happening in the world.

Sick people are all over the place

Although I wish everybody who was sick would stay in their homes, the sad reality is many still go to work, socialize and unwittingly infect a bunch of other people as a result. Each and everyday, I am easily willing to wager that things you touch out “in public”, be it a shopping basket or change you get at the cash register, has some type of germs on it, I am not talking about a few but BILLIONS of them. We live SURROUNDED by germs, they come from all over the place! Most of the time, this isn’t a problem, our immune system is able to fight off these viruses, bacteria and contagions quite well but every once in a while, BAM… your stuck in bed with a headache and a runny nose.

Those without sin throw the first stone…

I find this debate rather two faced, everybody, and I mean EVERYBODY has gone to work or public places sick, EVERYBODY has spread germs (knowingly or otherwise) and EVERYBODY is part of this never ending cycle of biological immigration / warfare that has gone on since the first organisms evolved on this pile of rocks we call Earth. Donald Trumpis quoted quite often saying he wishes business people wouldn’t even give eachother handshakes simply because he sees the same thing that I do… humans are the transportation system for the germ communities!

The bigger issue

I believe this is great for the general public to wakeup and realize that more people die in this world due to germs then wars, famines or anything else combined yet we spend more money on fighting “big small things” then “small big things” at the detriment of our own collective survival as a species. If you have a suppressed immune system, like those with HIV Disease, Cancer or many other condition, who cares about terrorism, the next person who even talks to you can lead to your death! We must realize collectively that each and every one of us is a carrier. I am positive that for every Andrew Speaker in this world that there are millions of people who do exactly the same thing but fly under the radar on a daily basis. He just happens to be the famous pawn that everybody is trying to vilify, I hope that this article helps undo some of the damage done to him.

The Bottom Line

Germs are like cockroaches, they where here way before humans arrived and will be on this planet way after we become extinct.

Seems like every once in a while, there is a show (in this case, a confirmed hoax) that really sparks worldwide condemnation even if it actually serves a greater good.

The State of Organ Donations

People around the world are truly upset at how a TV show by Dutch TV channel BNN, which also created “Big Brother”, could have even done such an evil thing as possibly awarding a much needed organ for our entertainment but let’s look at some (although dated) very sobering facts.

USA

• There is a constant critical shortage of organs, in 2002 out of the 80 thousand waiting patience, less then 13 thousand organs where made available
• Organ transplantation waiting lists are growing at a faster rate then that of organ donation
• In 2001, over 6 thousand people DIED waiting for a much needed organ

Canada

• Between 1996 and 2000, waiting lists grew 62% while number of transplants grew by just 22%
• By 2001, there where almost 4 thousand patients waiting for organs
• In 1999, 170 people waiting for an organ died due to their condition which represented 40% of those ON the list

Organ Donation Rates (worldwide)

• USA: 22 per million
• Canada: 15 per million
• Europe: 15 per million

Let’s put this into perspective

In 2001, there where a reported 2,416,425 deaths reported in the United States, which includes 6 thousand waiting transplant patients representing 0.2% of this total. Based on this, more people died simply WAITING for an organs to be made available to them than almost twice the number that died during the September 11th terrorists attacks in New York City, yet, where is the worldwide outcry? Where is the hundreds of billions of fresh investment into educational and alternative technologies that benefit the health of ALL of mankind? Where are the UN resolutions upon resolutions casting a solid mandate towards solving this solvable problem? Where is the leadership? The sad fact is, diseases and health simply are NOT a high priority until they are needed by those in power. If you keep tabs on the marketing you see around you and you will quickly realize that there is far MORE money spent by companies promoting alcohol and tobacco consumption to the general public then those promoting healthy lifestyles!

What does all this mean?

If you believe in God, screw asking for a great afterlife, if you are in need of a transplantation, ask to live long enough for a donor to become available!

BNN Chairman defends the show

I don’t know if at the end of the show, the hoax was simply a way out of the controversy or the original intent was to actually award the organ, but I am happy that once again, a REAL AND GROWING problem has been pushed to the forefront around the world. As the chairman of BNN (Laurens Drillich) states while defending the show from the great criticism he and his network has received:

“At least in this case… the contestants in the show have a 33 percent chance of getting a new kidney. They would have to wait much longer in real life for the same deal.”

I couldn’t agree more!

Solutions

I do know that this is a Worldwide problem, some governments have decided to pursuit a “sign if you DON’T want to be a donor” instead of the conventional “sign if you DO want to be a donor” with great success. There is also the emergence of “living donors” for such items as kidneys but the problem is that a few years alter, these donors may themselves need a transplant. There IS a black market in third world countries for organs including China where “inmates” are routinely made available to wealthy individuals for organ transplantation before their execution.

The Bottom Line

Organ transplantation is the easiest sacrifice you could ever make as they no purpose to you once your dead. I always sign my organ donation card, do you?

References:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0ICF/is_1_30/ai_n18615365
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=14570230

I have been writing and studying health most of my adult life and decided to start fresh with this blog so that you, both visitors and members of myfoodcount.com, can have more then a one way communication line with me. I look forward to seeing how this evolves and welcome your comments and of course, suggestions.

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