donated organs going to foreigners

[southeastastra]

is this really true? read an article today

[twinsetandpearls]

Was it the Mail on Sunday by any chance?

[scifinerd]

I didn't realise donating organs should be restricted to one group of people? What's wrong with that. A person is a person and if they need an organ they need an organ.

[southeastastra]

no telegraph will find a link

[southeastastra]

there is alot wrong with that if people are flying in to take advantage scifnerd

[Tinker]

Have you got more details of all of these very ill people flying in to grab all our organs?

[HecateQueenOfGhosts]

Yes. I read about it.

I have no problem with it IF there is nobody compatible in the country and the organs would otherwise not be used. but I think priority should be (and probably is) given to people on the waiting list who permenantly reside in the UK.

[twinsetandpearls]

it may have originated in the mail no great surprise

[southeastastra]

here

[oxocube]

My MIL has a thing about this - 'bloody scandalous' she said. She has refused to be an organ donor lest her bits end up inside 'some foreigner' Couldn't give a monkeys, personally. Would be happy if my organs could help anyone, regardless of nationality. And as I'd be dead anyway, I'd never know

[twinsetandpearls]

They will be having our steak next

[twinsetandpearls]

" I carry part of an Englishman inside me, so that will for ever keep me close to that country"

A statement you need to be careful making in public

[mrsruffallo]

There is a serious shortage of organs here, and it is unfair to Brits who have been waiting a long time.

[twinsetandpearls]

Have not read the whole article carefully as I am on a quick break but if we have to share our organs across the EU are our patients not entitled to EU donations?

[ruddynorah]

those articles hardly make sense.

the greek is an eu citizen so therefore entitled to nhs care same as any eu citizen.

the patients outside the eu, it says, only get surplus organs. organs can't just be donated to anyone, they have to have a match right? so if no match they go to overseas patients who have to pay for the care they receive because they are not eu citizens so do not get free nhs care.

i don't see what the problem is tbh.

but then i'm an immigrant so what would i know. though i haven't nicked any of your british organs so far...

[Hulababy]

If there is no suitable receipients residing on the UK, on the UK waiting lists - then I can;t see the problem.

But I do think the organs ought to be given to those most in need, from the UK waiting lists first, above those paying privately to come over from other countries in order to bypass their own country's organ donation systems.

The articles do seem designed to be inflammatory though. I imagine those organs donated to non-UK residients went to them as they could not be used for patients on the waiting lists.

I really hope that such articles do not prevent potential donators from donating in the future.

[twinsetandpearls]

ruddynorah would you not like a part of an englishman inside of you whereever you go?

[plantsitter]

Actually I find this bit - 'The rest went to people from countries outside the EU - livers can be given to non-Europeans only if they are deemed to be not of good enough quality for British patients' more shocking than the rest of it.

If an organ saves someone's life, great. It is a bit rubbish for the NHS to prioritise paying patients, if that's really what they're doing though.

[twinsetandpearls]

I agree Hula we need more donors not less.

[Piffle]

Surely other countries have exactly the same issue?
Swings and roundabouts
Do unto others
My organs go to whoever can use them regardless of nationality
Need determines distribution surely

[nkf]

Jobs. Women. Benefits. Kidneys. Pah!

[ruddynorah]

well i have nicked one of your fine british men for a husband you know..

[southeastastra]

i may sound heartless but i'd rather my organs went to uk nationals first

[Wonderstuff]

I feel this is a case of journalists and politicians over simplifying an issue to get a headline Matching organs to patients is complex and it isn't the case that people outside the UK are getting organs that could have gone to UK patients, why would the NHS do that? Dont read the Mail, tis full of crap!

[twinsetandpearls]

Why? Is a life not a life. I would rather it went to the person who needed it the most, regardless of geography.