There are currently 1856 people waiting for a lung transplant in the U.S. (this
ID: 94366 • Letter: T
Question
There are currently 1856 people waiting for a lung transplant in the U.S. (this # will probably change by the time you look it up for yourself). The median wait time for the years 2003-2004 for those in the age group 35-49 was 1059 DAYS.
Smoking damages the new lungs, putting the person at greater risk for lung infections, including bronchitis, emphysema and pneumonia. It also increases the risk of developing cancer. Cancer is the leading cause of death after transplantation and smoking dramatically increases the risk of developing lung and other cancers after lung transplant. Smoking diminishes the red blood cells' ability to carry oxygen, so less oxygen reaches the tissues and this decreases the person’s ability to heal. Smoking narrows blood vessels, especially those in the legs, arms, and heart. Smoking also increases the acid in the stomach which will delay or prevent the healing of any ulcers that may develop. Plus, all of these problems are more serious in individuals taking immunosuppressive medications.
Question
Do you think smokers should get lung transplants? Why or why not? State your position and defend it with credible documentation.
Explanation / Answer
A person who smokes knows that smoking is bad, so why reward them with a new set of lungs to ruin? There are many people out there who have lung disease not caused by smoking and never have smoked. I would not want my lungs to go to a person who did the damage on purpose. It would be like giving a person on death row a new heart only to know that he is going to die when he recovers. Let them die like the way they lived, by choice.
They started smoking with the knowledge of the effects. In this day and age it's hard to miss out on what smoking does to you. They knowingly kill themselves. We all deserve second chances, but if you're just going to hurt yourself, give the lungs to someone else. Someone else could use the lungs. Someone who actually didn't have a choice to become sick or not. You chose to smoke, you were aware of the effects and now you should deal with the consequences. It's harsh reality I suppose.
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