Question

In your lessons for this week, the cardiovascular system is covered. As you have learned, smoking has definite effects on the cardiovascular system. Consider the scenario below and then answer the questions. A patient, who has a long-standing history of smoking, is on the recipient list for new lung. Due to complications in his/her condition, a request is made for this patient to be moved to the "top of the list" and receive the first available lung. Given this patient's history, what do you think should be the appropriate action? Justify ypur answer. If not, what action would you take?

Answer 1

This is really a subjective answer. If given the choice to either give the lung to a six-year old lung cancer patient or the heavy smoker, I would choose the six-year old.

If I had to choose between car crash victim on a lung machine or the heavy smoker, I would choose the car crash victim.

If I had to choose between this heavy smoker and a young smoker that developed lung cancer, I would choose the young smoker and hope that he/she would change his/her habits and quit.

I bet you're starting to see the point I'm making. Hope this helps!