Newborn Becomes UK's Youngest Organ Donor
- 9 years ago
After an infant girl died, her parents agreed to donate her organs. This act allowed for a medical milestone to be reached, and opens the door for neonatal organ donors in the UK.
A medical milestone was achieved after a six-day-old infant became the United Kingdom's youngest organ donor.
The baby girl had been born with extreme brain damage and was in poor health. Given the infant's condition, her parents agreed to donate her organs once her heart ceased to beat.
Two patients benefitted from the parents' generosity. One received the baby's kidneys after suffering from renal failure. The other person received liver cells.
Other babies, as well as children and adults, can benefit from infant organ donors. Even though a newborn's organs are small, they can still be transplanted into an adult.
One of the doctors involved with the transplant hopes other neonatal units within the UK will explore this area of organ donation as well.
Currently, one setback to infant organ donatio
A medical milestone was achieved after a six-day-old infant became the United Kingdom's youngest organ donor.
The baby girl had been born with extreme brain damage and was in poor health. Given the infant's condition, her parents agreed to donate her organs once her heart ceased to beat.
Two patients benefitted from the parents' generosity. One received the baby's kidneys after suffering from renal failure. The other person received liver cells.
Other babies, as well as children and adults, can benefit from infant organ donors. Even though a newborn's organs are small, they can still be transplanted into an adult.
One of the doctors involved with the transplant hopes other neonatal units within the UK will explore this area of organ donation as well.
Currently, one setback to infant organ donatio