Adán Olmos and September 26th, National Day of Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation

September 26th

Author: Juan Manuel Palomares Cantero

Versión en español

Introduction

Every September 26, Mexico commemorates the National Day of Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation, a day dedicated to raising awareness in society about the importance of organ and tissue donation. This gesture of generosity has the potential to transform lives, as in the case of Adán Olmos, who is waiting for a face transplant, after an accident suffered in 2016. These types of highly complex procedures are made possible by the collective effort of donors, authorities, and medical professionals.

What is organ donation and how does it work?

Organ donation allows the removal of organs or tissues from a living or brain-dead person to transplant them into another person who needs it. In cadaveric donation, vital organs such as the heart, kidneys, lungs and liver, as well as tissues such as corneas, bones and skin, can be donated. The tissues are usually processed before they are used in surgical procedures. In life, donors can offer organs such as a kidney, without compromising their health. This process involves a thorough evaluation to ensure the viability of the organs and their compatibility with the recipient.

The case of Adán Olmos and the urgency of a face transplant

A face transplant is one of the most complex and advanced procedures in modern medicine. Since the first face transplant was performed in 2005 in France, 40 procedures have been performed worldwide, with a constantly improving success rate. However, these transplants come with significant challenges, such as graft rejection and the need for lifelong immunosuppressants.

In Mexico, the Tlalpan Team, together with institutions such as Transplant and Life I.A.P., the DIOMED Hospital, the Pan-American University, the Anahuac Center for Strategic Development in Bioethics, (CADEBI) of the Anahuac University Mexico, among others, have been working for years to make the first face transplant in the country a reality. This project has advanced significantly thanks to the joint effort of these groups and the support of CENETRA (National Transplant Center), under the direction of Dr. Salvador Aburto, General Director of the National Transplant Center of the Ministry of Health and a great promoter of this cause.

However, the main challenge in performing this procedure is the availability of a multi-organ donor. It is essential that the donation and transplant committees of each hospital or health center in Mexico City and the metropolitan area are properly informed and trained to facilitate the process when the right opportunity arises. In addition, it is important to note that the costs of this type of transplant are high, since they require expensive immunosuppressants on an ongoing basis. As an immediate goal, we need to raise 5 million pesos to cover the first years of treatment and other post-operative expenses.

The case of Adán Olmos will not only be an example of medical progress in Mexico, but also a social commitment that will need the constant support of civil society. Fundraising is essential to cover long-term medical costs, and this case will be another example of the spirit of solidarity of the Mexican people, who have always responded generously to great challenges. Thanks to the participation of various institutions and the solidarity of society, Adán will represent not only a medical, but also an ethical and social triumph in our country.

Bioethical reflection on organ donation and the case of Adán Olmos

From a bioethical perspective, organ donation is an act that reflects solidarity and respect for human life. By donating organs, the dignity of the donor is respected and the recipient's right to a second chance at life is recognized. In the case of Adán, it can be said that it is a matter of recovering his social life, as he himself has stated, he is currently living a social death, where rejection, segregation and discarding is the constant in his life. With face transplantation, additional bioethical questions arise about identity and the psychological impact on the recipient. How does this procedure influence one's perception? What responsibility does society have in promoting this type of complex donations?

Adán's case highlights the urgency and need to have multi-organ donors and the fundamental role played by transplant committees in hospitals. These procedures, although complex, can radically transform a person's life. Bioethics invites us to reflect on how to balance respect for physical life, respect for the dignity of the person, justice, solidarity, subsidiarity and equity in access to such significant transplants.

Conclusions

National Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Day reminds us that donation is an act of generosity that can save lives and change the course of history for those who are waiting for a second chance. Cases such as that of Adán Olmos highlight the importance of fostering a culture of donation in Mexico, supported by institutions such as CENETRA, Tlalpan Team, among others, which fight to make these complex procedures a reality.

It is essential to continue raising awareness in society and hospital authorities so that more people can access this type of transplant. Organ donation is much more than an altruistic gesture: it is an opportunity to give life.

You can contribute directly through these means:

Arthritic Hand Help Group, A.C., (Tlalpan Team),       
Banco Multiva      
CLABE 1321 8000 0076 6365 71      
Account 00007663657

Transplant and Life, I.A.P   
Banamex     
CLABE 002180701982569336 

Gofundme

Crowfunding Anáhuac

Juan Manuel Palomares Cantero is a lawyer, master and doctor in Bioethics from the Universidad Anáhuac, Mexico. He was director of Human Capital, director and general coordinator in the Faculty of Bioethics. He currently works as a researcher in the Academic Directorate of Integral Training of the same University. He is a member of the Mexican National Academy of Bioethics and the Latin American and Caribbean Federation of Bioethics Institutions. This article was assisted in its writing by the use of ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence tool developed by OpenAI.

The opinions shared in this blog are the full responsibility of their respective authors and do not necessarily represent a unanimous opinion of the seminars, nor do they reflect an official position on the part of CADEBI. We value and encourage any comments, responses, or constructive criticism you wish to share.