Is there an upper age limit for a possible organ donor?
And are there any organs at all that are useable no matter how old the donor?
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I want to say it’s 60.
A couple years ago, my wife and I went to a local fair where they registered people for Bone Marrow, and they told us then that they would keep our records on file until we hit 60. After that, they don’t want it.
I realize Marrow is different than organs, but I would guess the guidelines they use are similar.
Good question, I have no idea. Maybe if they could find a way to transplant a good sense of humor. I plan on all my organs being thoroughly used up, including my sense of humor.
Slide out sideways, wine in one hand, chocolate in another shouting “Woooo what a ride!”
I imagine, depending on the donors conditions upon death that some organs might still have a little tread on them.
From the Mayo Clinic: “There’s no defined cutoff age for donating organs. The decision to use your organs is based on strict medical criteria, not age. Don’t disqualify yourself prematurely. Let the doctors decide at your time of death whether your organs and tissues are suitable for transplantation.”
As an aside, I just read Stiff, The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers, by Mary Roach (and recommended by the redoubtable @syz). It makes a strong case for simply willing your entire corpus delecti to a medical facility.
^^That’s what I plan to do. I’ve been in med school anatomy labs, and while it’s a bit gruesome seeing cadavers hanging on hooks, I really understand the need for dissection and the relationship between the student and his cadaver. Actually finding and isolating specific nerves, muscles, organs and glads, etc. is invaluable. Medical schools are often short of the the needed cadavers. I’m volunteering mine.
^^^There’s a whole lot more than dissection going on, if Mary Roach can be believed. How to you think improvements in body armor or boots for walking over land mines are developed? (Or the implication of some impact studies in cars?)
I’ve just finished her book too @gailcalled and I can’t see why there would be an upper age limit on some of the uses for cadavers or parts of. Fascinating book. Is there an area of employment you think would be interesting for that time of your…life? As to the second part of your question, I think there would be age limits for donation but for things like impact studies and the like I would think the usefulness of the body would endure. I was also thinking about brains. Given the increasing level of dementia (in its various forms) in society, older brains might actually be very useful. Especially if you are still in full brain health when you pass.
Maybe it depends on both the specific organ and the overall health of the donor?
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