4 ms·

I'm no expert either, but I think the problem is that suitable donors are extremely rare -- and most of them would prefer not to give up their bone marrow to so

by hugh 18y ago

I'm no expert either, but I think the problem is that suitable donors are extremely rare -- and most of them would prefer not to give up their bone marrow to some random stranger, thanks very much. update: Oh, and a bone marrow transplant is a horrible procedure which kills 30% of recipients.

rms 18y ago
Yeah... for it to work you basically have to completely destroy the immune system of the transplant target and they recover in a bubble.
- kylec 18y ago
  The way I see it AIDS will do that on its own, so you might as well give it a shot.
  - rms 18y ago
    AIDS perhaps, but anyone that could afford to pay for a treatment like this is unlikely to have progressed past HIV, as they could surely afford the best current treatments.
ComputerGuru 18y ago
Also, unlike other kinds of donations, bone marrow transplants are a bit more taxing on the donor. It's a painful procedure that requires a hospital stay for donor and recipient, and it's really complicated. To put things in perspective, it's physically easier to donate a kidney than bone marrow.