How to Answer: You have two patients who need a kidney transplant. One patient is an elderly physician with kidney failure; the other is a 20-year-old high school dropout brought in again for binge drinking. You have only one kidney. Who do you give the kidney to?
5. You have two patients who need a kidney transplant. One patient is an elderly physician with kidney failure; the other is a 20-year-old high school dropout brought in again for binge drinking. You have only one kidney. Who do you give the kidney to?
How to Answer
The panel would like evidence that you can communicate your approach when it comes to this challenging hypothetical scenario. Be sure to present your thoughts supporting both sides while showcasing your professionalism and strong problem-solving skills.
Answer Example
"As a physician, I can empathize with the fact that both of these patients are in a position of suffering, and it's up to me to make a sound decision based on my medical expertise. First and foremost, I would put each patient on dialysis while I made my decision. Next, I would research which patient had a better chance of recovering from a kidney transplant surgery by looking into their medical history and performing a series of tests. If I chose to provide the kidney to the elderly physician versus the 20-year-old high school dropout, I would make this decision on their ability to accept the organ and recover from the transplant with minimal complications. My choice would have nothing to do with their career or social status. If the elderly physician presented the best outcomes, I would give him the kidney with the expectations that the organ would provide him with another 15-20 years of good health. If the younger patient received the kidney, I would also ensure that he had health coaching related to binge drinking and taking care of his new organ. It would then be essential that the non-recipient remained on dialysis and the organ transplant list until another match became available."
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