Viewpoint
The Battalion
Texas A&M University
Wednesday
December 6, 1978
The West German transplant controversy
By GUNTER HAAF
HAMBURG, WEST GERMANY — To
hear some of the rhetoric, it would seem
that Dr. Frankenstein had returned to
manufacture monsters out of corpses. In
fact, the controversy currently raging here
is over proposed legislation to improve
ways of transplanting hearts, kidneys, liv
ers, eyes and other vital organs from the
dead to the living.
The bill, introduced into the West
German legislature by the federal gover-
ment a couple of months ago, would au
thorize surgeons to perform a transplant
unless a citizen specifically registered re
fusal on his or her identity card; or stated
an objection to the operation before his
death.
The aim of the legislation, in other
words, is to put the burden of refusal on
the individual, and, as a consequence, in
crease the number of potential donors
whose organs could be transferred to those
who need them.
But the bill, which promises to provoke
likely debate when it comes up in the
legislature this winter, has already
prompted politicians, physicians, theolo
gians and others to speak out on the issue,
and much of the discussion is highly emo
tional.
The issue certainly merits serious dis
cussion, since it raises several complicated
medical, legal, moral and economic ques
tions.
Transplant operations, while not exactly
routine, have been rising steadily
throughout the world. More than 25,000
kidney transplants have taken place in the
United States within the past generation.
and heart and liver transplants are on the
increase. Cornea and ear bone transplants
are not uncommon, but the transfer of or
gans like the pancreas, spleen and small
intestine is still in the experimental stage.
Advanced though it may be in many re
spects, West Germany has been behind in
this field. For example, some 1,500 West
Germans a year ought to have kidney
transplants in order to free them from
cumbersome dialysis. But only 172 kid
neys were transplanted by surgeons here
in 1976.
One strong argument for more kidney
transplants is that the maintenance of
some 10,000 West Germans on dialysis
costs a total of $150 million a year, while
an operation can be performed for only
$1,200. Nor is there a lack of kidneys. Ex
perts estimate that of the 15,000 traffic
fatalities annually, 2,000 are probable kid
ney donors.
For years, doctors here have been hin
dered in performing transplants, partly
because the law based on principles set
down a century ago is ambiguous. Volun
tary donors have also been scarce.
In 1974, acting with government
encouragement, a group of specialists
began drafting legislation that, in their es
timation, would help the living while re
specting the dead.
Within a year, they had written a bill
that would allow surgeons to perform
transplants except on persons whose iden
tity cards contained a clear notation oppos
ing the operation.
This appeared to conform with West
German attitudes as expressed in opinion
surveys. According to the polls, roughly
half of those queried said that they favored
organ transplants “without reservation,”
and another 25 percent replied that they
were inclined to subscribe to them.
But even while the legislation was being
drafted, various groups surfaced with as
sorted recommendations and amend
ments. In one West German state, for in
stance, the opposition Christian Demo
cratic Union introduced a local bill
stipulating that potential donors ought to
consent to transplants rather than merely
register their refusal.
In September, the federal government
produced a final version of its bill, and this
has compounded the controversy because
of the complexities of the issue. Among
other things, the definition of death is un
clear to certain critics of the legislation.
According to the bill, death is estab
lished if blood circulation has stopped for
at least three hours. But because kidney
and liver transplants are useless three
hours after the circulatory system has
ceased to function, the legislation au
thorizes the operation if two physicians in
dependently confirm that the brain has
stopped operating.
Some experts submit, however, that
this is too vague, since modern medical
equipment can keep a heart beating for
months and even years even though the
brain has died.
Another quarrel has arisen, meanwhile,
over the passage in the bill that would use
a citizen’s identity card as the indicator of
his or her willingness to have a transplant
performed.
A group of Catholic bishops hostile to
the legislation has said, for example, that it
is both legally and ethically “inadmissable”
for the absence of an objection to a trans
plant on an identity card to mean consent
to the operation.
Other critics contend, moreover, that
use of the identity card at all as an indica
tor is a violation of privacy. And still others
have warned that safeguards must be
taken to assure against the forgery of iden
tity cards.
One solution to this problem, now ac
cepted by supporters of the bill, would be
to make the transplant notation invisible
on identity cards.
Ultimately, though, the real question at
stake in this controversy concerns the
conduct of doctors. Here, as elsewhere in
the world, decisions are made rapidly by
physicians, and as Nobel Prize laureate
Werner Forssmann recently cautioned, it
is important that they do not develop too
liberal a view toward what he called
“spare-part surgery.”
The legislation seeks to avoid this
danger by requiring that doctors docu
ment in detail all the facts leading up to
their decision to perform a transplant. In
that way, it is hoped, they will be discour
aged from acting hastily.
Despite the squabbling, then, it appears
that West Germany will eventually join
most other West European nations in pass
ing an effective law governing transplants.
At that stage, the link between the living
and dead will be improved by what one
specialist has termed a “treaty of mutual
interest.”
(Haaf writes on science and technology
for Die Zeit, the West German weekly
newspaper.)
To China-watchers: Here’s mud in your eye
By DICK WEST
WASHINGTON — It has become clear
during the past fortnight that something
curious is happening in China again.
About all that is known for certain is that
wall posters critical of the late Mao
Tsetung have appeared in Peking for the
first time. But that is all it takes to give
China-watchers another one of their finest
hours.
bumperstickers criticizing Abraham Lin
coln.
In the circumstances, everything that
comes out of China, no matter how
obscure or trivial, is being examined for
portents and hidden meanings — usually
Humor
Thus far, they have come up with two
elaborate interpretations. One theory is
that the posters grq the sign of a, power
struggle between Premier Huiat Kuo-feng,
a Mao man, and Vice Premier Teng
Hsiao-ping.
The other is that the posters are no
more significant that* would be American
with some success.
Would like like to try your hand at a bit
of Chinawatching? Then see what you
make of this:
At a banquet during his November visit
to Peking, Agriculture Secretary Bob
Bergland exchanged toasts with his
Chinese counterpart, Yang Li-kung.
Texts of their remarks recently made
available by the Agriculture Department
show that Bergland raised his glass “to the
health of Chairman Hua, to the health of
President Carter, to the health of my new
friend Yang, to the health of our new
Chinese friends, to the health of your new
American friends.”
Yang, for his part, drank “to the health
of President Carter, to the health of Am
bassador Woodcock and Mrs. Woodcock,
to the health of all the American friends
and Chinese comrades here. Bottoms up!”
To the untrained eye, Yang’s toast might
appear routine and commonplace. But
when you hold it up to the light and slosh
ft around a little, you begin to get a
China-watcher’s perspective.
Note, for example, that while both
Bergland and Yang proposed toasts to the
U.S. president’s health, only the Ameri
can toasted the Chinese premier’s health.
Surely that tells us something about the
political situation over there.
Although Yang presumably joined Berg
land in drinking to Hua’s health, there is a
world of difference between joining a toast
and proposing one.
The former is perfunctory, the latter
calculated. And there’s more.
Note that Yang ended his toast with the
words “bottoms up!”
In other circumstances, that might
sound like an innocuous call for the empty
ing of glasses. To a China-watcher, how
ever, it appears ambiguous.
As vice premier, Teng ranks between
Hua. Viewed in that context, “bottoms
up” also becomes a toast to Teng’s impend
ing rise to the top.
A China-watcher can only conclude that
the situation looks pretty bad for Hua. But
not as bad as it would have looked had
Teng’s toast ended with “down the hatch.”
Letters to the Editor
Athletes need to show Aggie spirit too
Editor:
Because of an unpleasant incident at the
A&M-ORU basketball game, we believe
there is a need to write this letter. Most of
the student body is probably aware of the
incident, so let us briefly explain the situa
tion.
A&M and ORU had been involved in a
tight game with the lead changing often.
In an effort to give A&M momentum, the
partisan crowd was on its feet most of the
second half, fervently doing yells and
clapping. All but a few student-athletes
participated in the yells. It is to those few
that this letter is directed.
A&M like most colleges and universities
projects the image that its athletes are not
just “jocks” but students interested in re
ceiving an education as well as backing
their school. Because we know some of
them, we are confident that A&M has
student-athletes who exemplify this spirit.
But after viewing the behavior of the
aforementioned athletes, we are also con-
Talk with Dr. Miller
Dear Dr. Miller:
I hate rainy days and Fridays — because that is when it seems to be the hardest to
catch an Intra-Campus bus from work to class and back. Dear A&M — the Intra-
Campus bus system is a free service and a much appreciated one. Because of the
parking problems, it is also a much needed service. However, it is about as reliable as
a politician’s campaign promise.
I realize buses break down, and bus drivers often have legitimate reasons for not
being able to come to work. But TEI should be adequately staffed and equipped with
stand-by drivers and buses to compensate for much of this. I feel sorry for the drivers
who do show up, because they catch the brunt of the students’ anger for having
waited 25 minutes at a stop — and they are the ones who are doing their jobs well.
Some people may have started thinking the Intra-Campus system was a dumb idea
to begin with, because many of the buses run almost empty. My guess is that the
service is so undependable for those bound by time, that a lot of students have had to
find other methods of getting “across the tracks. ” TEI should try being totally de
pendable for several months and see how business is then.
I do not know what A&M pays TEI for this service. Perhaps it is not enough for
TEI to maintain an efficient system. Perhaps TEI is soaking A&M. That is really for
the administration to figure out. All I know is that an intra-campus system is going to
become a lot more necessary as A&M grows.
I have considered very seriously riding a bike, but my dexterity in this particular
area would probably endanger many of my fellow Aggies.
Can somebody help?
—Linda Clark, ’79
Dear Linda:
Thank you for sharing your concern with me about the problems associated with
the intra-campus shuttle bus system. I can assure you that the administration is aware
of the problems and has been attempting to take positive steps to minimize them.
It is true that there have been both mechanical and human failures associated with
the system. The maintenance and personnel supervision problems have been dis
cussed at length with the executive officers of Transportation Enterprises Incorpo
rated, the contractor for the service. We hope that substantial improvement in the
quality of the service will result.
A third intra-campus route is to be established between the Soil and Crop Sciences
Building area and the Memorial Student Center-Health Center area. This new route
was to be initiated on Monday morning, Dec. 4 and will provide bus service at about
five minute intervals.
The University Shuttle Bus Committee, chaired by Mr. Gene Oates and consisting
of faculty, staff, and students, has been working hard to alleviate the problems that
have existed with the system. They share my concern in providing a service that will
be tailored to meet the needs of students. I would suggest that if the problem
persists, you contact Mr. Gene Oates at 845-8020 and make your concerns known.
I appreciate your bringing this matter to our attention.
—Jarvis E. Miller
President
fident that A&M has student-athletes who
do not exemplify this spirit, i.e., they are
jocks. The case in point here involves
Mike Mosley who did not once “hump it”
during the game, and when prodded to do
so by some students, made an obscene
gesture to those students.
We are not questioning the athletic abil
ity of Mosley as he has represented A&M
well in his athletic role; however, his re
sponse to his fellow students does make us
question Mike’s attitude in fulfilling his
role as a student. Because of our love for
A&M and our respect for Mosley as an
athlete, we encourage him to examine his
role as a student hoping that he may
realize his purpose here at A&M.
We congratulate all of A&M’s student-
athletes for representing A&M well and
wish them continued good luck.
—Richard Barton, ’79
Keith Smathers, ’80
John O’Donnell, ’81
‘Hump it, jocks’
Editor:
I noticed something Monday night at
the basketball game that made me wonder
what Aggie Spirit is all about. Why is it
that the student body can stand during
four quarters of a football game and a few
of our athletes find it difficult to stand dur
ing the yells at the basketball games?
To me, “humping it” during a yell shows
the pride that we have in being Aggies.
We should be honored to be able to stand
and yell for the various athletic teams at
A&M, not only the football team.
So how bout it jocks, do you think you
can find the energy to stand during yells
and show the rest of the student body that
you have as much pride in Texas A&M as
they do?
—Chris Griffin, ’80
Ag support inspiring
Editor:
I thought I knew every tradition and felt
every thrill about being an Aggie. Boy was
I wrong! When I arrived at Memorial
Stadium last Friday night, (beat the hell
out of t. u.), I yelled my lungs out (still
hoarse) and supported the fighting Aggie
team with the rest of the twelfth man.
As the teasips began to count down their
remaining seconds. Aggies were about to
show their endless realm of support for
A&M. One Ag in my section yelled for
everyone to move over behind the band.
As this was happening, I smiled at all
those ’sips who had a bewildered look and
were wondering what this swarm of Aggies
were about to perform. Much to their re
lief it was a yell practice but it seemed to
be a very special practice compared to
others I have been to. (Boy, was it loud
and proud!)
Leaving Memorial Stadium with a huge
lump of pride I can easily say we won it in
our hearts.
(Beat the hell outta Iowa State. . . and
t. u. in ’79)
—Jean Vite, ’81
P.S. This letter is not directed to all
athletes, only those few who don’t stand
for yells. Also, the display that one of our
respected football players had after being
asked to “hump it” during the game with
Oral Roberts was childish and uncalled
for.
Unspirited ‘salute’
Readers’ F orum
Guest viewpoints, in addi
tion to Letters to the Editor,
are welcome. All pieces sub
mitted to Readers' forum
should be:
• Typed triple space
• Limited to 100 lines
• Limited to 60 characters per
line
Editor:
At Monday night’s basketball game our
esteemed starting quarterback, Mike
Mosley, committed an act which will
surely endear him in the hearts of many
Aggies.
Because he did not “hump it” during
several yells a number of students loudly
suggested that he should. Mosley’s re
sponse was to give the audience a middle
finger salute.
Now we realize that no one is forced to
yell for A&M. And it is also possible that
Mosley was still upset over Friday night’s
game. But that does not give him the right
to flip off the student body.
Mr. Mosley should realize that those
students are the same ones who were still
standing and yelling when we were behind
33-0, 24-6, 22-7, etc.
If he receives a less than enthusiastic
response in his next appearance on the
football field perhaps he should remember
his middle finger.
—Robert Williams, ’80
Elusive week
Editor:
No, Virginia, there isn’t a “dead week;”
it only exists as an enticing but intangible
mirage in the desert of academia where
the Aggies are left without a camel.
— Anthony A. Albracht, ’81
«. i
T*' , ;,;.V • v,, ■ • . 7T7T •
Top of the News
CAMPUS
Plant Sciences receives grant
Texas A&M University’s Plant Sciences Department has received a
$5,000 unrestricted grant from the Merk Foundation of Rahway, N.J.
Dr. Howard Joham, department head, said the funds will be spentto
improve teaching and to allow students to work with live specimens.
Edwin Koldenhaven of Denton presented the grant and said this is
the first year of a two-year $10,000 commitment to the department.
The Sanctuary Choir of the First Baptist Church in College Station
will present its annual Christmas cantata Sunday. This year the can
tata is entitled, ‘‘Everybody Will Be Praisin’ the Lord” and is written
by Jerry Nelson. The program will begin at 7 p.m. in the auditorium
of the First Baptist Church in College Station at 200 College Main.
Tfrere is no charge for the public performance.
STATE
Desegregation case returned
The Supreme Court has refused to hear the appeal of a Beaumont,
Texas, school desegregation case returned to a lower court for consid
eration of Justice Department complaints. The decision from Wash
ington, in effect, upheld a ruling by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of
Appeals at New Orleans which sent the South Park Independent
School District case back to Judge Joe L. Fisher for further proceed
ings. The Justice Department has asked Fisher to reconsider a 1976
desegregation plan he approved for the affluent, predominantly white
district. The plan relieo largely on neighborhood attendance zones.
Assistant IRS chief held hostage
A former Internal Revenue Service employee, disgruntled over a
late retirement check, Monday held hostage the local assistant IRS
director for three hours in Austin before releasing him unharmed.
FBI agents arrested William Michael Boyd, 31, who was expected to
be arraigned Tuesday before a U.S. magistrate. Assistant IRS director
Howard Longley was released unharmed. An employee who was near
Longley’s office when Boyd approached about 4 p.m. said thefprmer
employee was carrying a pistol. Tire FBI, however, would not con
firm that a weapon was used.
NATION
Aragon announces resignation
Striking firemen reach settlement
Pan Am to remain in New York
WORLD
Basque guerrillas kill 3 officers
Pope to fly to Mexico next month
Pope John Paul II will fly to Mexico next month to inaugurate the
third Latin American Bishops Conference in his first trip outside Italy
since being elected, Vatican sources said Tuesday. Though the Vati
can would not officially confirm the papal trip, Vatican kes said it was
certain the pontiff would attend the conference. The Latin American
Bishops Conference opens at Puebla near Mexico City Jan. 27 and
about 3,000 prelates from the region are expected to attend.
WEATHER
Cloudy skies and colder temperatures with a 30% chance of
rainfall. Temperatures will be falling to the mid 40’s by noon.
Low today 30 and high in the mid 50’s. Winds will be northerly
at 10-15 mph. Cloudy skies, windy, and cold rain the rest of
the week. *
Christmas cantata scheduled Sunday
Joseph W. Aragon, special assistant to the president and the high
est ranking Hispanic in the White House, said Tuesday in Washing
ton he has resigned and will return early next year to his femily
business in California. He said he will remain at the White House
probably until late January or early February to help presidential
assistant Hamilton Jordan search for a successor.
Negotiators for striking firemen and the city of Lake Charles, La.,
reached a tentative settlement Tuesday that gives workers an un
specified pay raise partly dependent on passage of a sales tax increase.
Lake Charles firemen went on strike Wednesday demanding a 13
percent pay increase. The city said it could not afford to give more
than the 7.5 percent promised for all city employees y the 1979
budget.
Wit
Stilt
a pi
ver*
stuc
app
Joe
Ken
fron
Joe
H
ri)
W
robbi
tume
passe
Th
King
crimi
obtai
A !
sawe
trial.
W
amer
vicar
“A
throi
a thii
Four
Th
Pan American Airlines Tuesday announced plans to buy the land
under its office building for $25 million and reaffirmed its commit
ment to keep its world headquarters in New York City. Pan Ams
announcement came several weeks after American Airlines said it was
moving its operations to Dallas and Tulsa, taking 2,500 jobs in the
metropolitan area with it. Pan Am Chairman William Seawell said the
company’s decision "reflects the business climate generated by the
city’s aggressive economic program.”
scare
be ej
Th
wher
the e
Ju;
Thur
sion
peo]
Basque separatist guerrillas, attacking on the eve of a national re
ferendum on Spain’s new democratic constitution, shot three police
officers to death Tuesday in a Madrid bar. The killings in the city of
San Sebastian near the French border raised the number of victims of
Basque terrorism since Oct. 1 to 30. Twenty of the dead were
policemen. Authorities, fearing renewed violence by ETA (Basque
Homeland and Liberty) guerrillas, have placed the four Basque prov
inces in northern Spain on a “state of technical alarm.”
The Battalion
LETTERS POLICY
Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words and are
subject to beinf' cut to that length or less if longer. The
editorial staff reserves the right to edit such letters and does
not guarantee to publish any letter. Each letter must be
signed, show the address of the writer and list a telephone
number for verification.
Address correspondence to Letters to the Editor, The
Battalion, Room 216, Reed McDonald Building, College
Station, Texas 77843.
MEMBER
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism Congress
Editor . .. KimTys*
Managing Editor Liz Ned*
Assistant Managing Editor .Andy William
Represented nationally by National Educational Adver
tising Services, Inc., New York City, Chicago and Los
Angeles.
The Battalion is published Monday through Friday from
September through May except during exam and holiday
periods and the summer, when it is published on Tuesday
through Thursday.
Mail subscriptions are $16.75 per semester; $33.25 per
school year; $35.00 per full year. Advertising rates furnished
on request. Address: The Battalion, Room 216, Reed
McDonald Building, College Station, Texas 77843.
United Press International is entitled exclusively to the
use for reproduction of all news dispatches credited to it.
Rights of reproduction of all other matter herein reserved.
Second-Class postage paid at College Station, TX 77843.
Sports Editor .David
City Editor Jamie Aifc
Campus Editor Steve 1*
News Editors Debbie Paw®
Beth Calhoun
Staff Writers Karen Rogers, Mai
Patterson, Scott Pendletoa
Sean Petty, Michelle Scuddei
Diane Blake, Lee Roy Leschpe
Jr., Dillard Stone
Cartoonist DougGratai 1
Photographers Ed Cunniiis
Lynn Blanco
Focus section editor Gary Weld
Opinions expressed in The Battalion are
those of the editor or of the writer of the
article and are not necessarily those of the
University administration or the Board of
Regents. The Battalion is a non-profit,
supporting enterprise operated bij stiulenti
as a university and community newsptpt
Editorial policy is determined by the edi/iif