Premium
Alcoholism and Liver Transplantation: Ethical and Nursing Implications
Author(s) -
Killeen Therese K.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
perspectives in psychiatric care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.538
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 1744-6163
pISSN - 0031-5990
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-6163.1993.tb00395.x
Subject(s) - candidacy , liver transplantation , medicine , liver disease , alcoholic liver disease , transplantation , nursing , disease , psychiatry , intensive care medicine , surgery , pathology , cirrhosis , political science , politics , law
Alcoholism is the major cause of end‐stage liver disease, yet only a small portion of alcoholics receive liver transplants. The author discusses the ethical and nursing implications of the rigorous criteria for transplantation that alcoholic clients must meet. A case history of a 36‐year‐old woman with end‐stage liver disease is described to support the author's contention that substance abuse treatment can ultimately have a positive impact on liver transplant candidacy.