Reply #52: Hubby says no.

[knitter4democracy]

He's run codes, declared death, and signed death certs. He says that the test is done for 30-40 seconds at most, since most people would start breathing by then if they can breathe on their own. If they don't, they're ventillated again. He is shocked and horrified by the ten minutes citation in the article. He was never taught that, he never saw that, and he's sure that it is totally wrong.

Organs donation doesn't make anywhere near as much money as cash procedures (plastic surgery, laser stuff, etc.). Hospitals offer organ transplant surgery so that they can save lives and have the reputation that they save lives. It's an amazingly costly procedure, no matter which organ is involved, and the surgeons who do it tend to work insane hours (many aren't married or, if divorced, don't have custody, since they're in the hospital for over 100 hours a week all the time). They're at the top of their field, but they don't make the money that other surgeons make. A lot of their salary comes from grant money, actually.