[UA] The Invisible Hand

[Jon Capps]

Doug Stalker wrote:

> * OK, with modern technology it's probably possable to survive
> without a liver - but I doubt it's a very nice existance.

I don't think so.  I've had TWO~! liver transplants (and they tell me that
I'll probly need another one in 10-15 years), and according to all the
medical propaganda I've come across, the liver is the only organ/tissue that
does not have some technological replacement.  Granted, this info is several
years old, but I think I'd have heard about it if some new hepatic breakthru
had occurred since then.

Jon Capps

P.S. Ok, we don't have a 'brain replacement' either, but a body can be kept
alive with a non-functioning brain (it's called brain death, but it's not
recognised in all countries, which is why the Japanese have to go to
Australia or US if they need a transplant).  If the liver goes, you don't
have much time and the docs can't do anything except put you at the top of
the transplant list (I barely lasted the week it took to find a donor). It's
*very* painfull--severe, incapacitating stomach aches due to internal
bleeding; jaundice; and loss of lucid thought (toxins in the blood,
including amonia, which affects the brain); quickly followed by a coma which
lasts 2-3 days; then death.  I went through all of that, except the death
part ;)


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