Liver Transplantation for Alcoholics with Terminal Liver Disease
David H Van Thiel, Alcohol Health & Research World
Most candidates for liver transplantation have irreversible cirrhosis caused by years of heavy alcohol consumption. Arguments against liver transplantation for alcoholics include the presumption of relapse to heavy drinking, which might damage the new liver or lead to its rejection. Corresponding ethical arguments focus on the presumption that alcoholics brought their condition upon themselves and should not compete with nonalcoholics for scarce donor livers. However, experimental data demonstrate that carefully selected alcoholics can survive liver transplantation and return to the workplace as productive citizens. Moreover, it has never been considered ethical for clinicians to refuse …
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Publication information:
Article title: Liver Transplantation for Alcoholics with Terminal Liver Disease.
Contributors: David H Van Thiel - Author.
Journal title: Alcohol Health & Research World.
Volume: 20.
Issue: 4
Publication date: January 1, 1996.
Page number: 261+.
© 1989 U.S. Government Printing Office.
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