To ask you to consider organ donation?

[DrSeuss]

In five days time, it will be twelve years since a dear friend received her new lungs. They were the gift of a family who had just lost their young son, Matthew, and are the only reason she is alive today. My friend, her family and any one who knows her will be eternally grateful for this gift, given at a time when they could have chosen to focus solely on themselves.

If you have not already done so, please consider carrying a donor card, putting your name on the Organ Donor Register and making your wishes known to your family.

www.uktransplant.org.uk/ukt/how_to_become_a_donor/how_to_become_a_donor.jsp

Already registered

You can also go onto boots website and register when updating your advantage card (if I remember you just have to tick a box as they already have your details) and you get a new card with the logo for organ donation on it. V easy to do!

Thanks, Sparkle. Even more reason to do that, since it's so easy!

I don't understand why anyone would not want to be on the register!

Why would you ever turn down the opportunity to save someone's life?

There are a number of religious groups which have valid reasons for not taking part. However, for many people, they just never get round to registering and it really is so easy.

I've been registered for years - I think it's an extremely important thing to do - like they say, you help someone live after your death.

(i'm not so keen on giving organs while i'm alive, though, like kidneys, because I'm worried I might end up needing the spare)

Thanks, Ladies, but you're all already on the list. Still waiting for some newbies!

nearly one of the first things we did when we moved to australia was to put our names on their donar list. both dh and i want all of our bodies donated to science / medical people so they can test new things out. don't need your body when you are dead but hope people alive will benifit.
and thank you to people who have lost people who have donated their bodies. maybe you helped my son in some way

I signed up after seeing a thread like this on here. Really what use is your body after you're dead anyway? Make better use of it and help someone else

Actually, I keep meaning to do this, as does DH but its one of those things we keep forgetting - thread has prompted me to get my act together.

Anyone know how to register in Ireland though? (if not Ill look it up.. )

Already on it and have spoken to DH regarding my wishes. DD has expressed an interest in joining.

Just registered myself and DH - cards are being sent in the post. Thanks OP, good thread - I probably wouldnt have if I hadnt read this (well done )

Well done Barbie and Ken!

Bumping.

I can't donate to live patients, but this has prompted me to look up how to leave my body to medical science.
Human Tissue Authority: How to donate your body

There's also an option to donate just your brain.

Funerals/memorials are for the living, so I'll need to find out how my nearest and dearest would feel. But will definitely sign up to donate at least the brain.

I am in two minds about registering. My concern is that not everything will be done to save my life if it is know that the body can be used for parts.

yes, Cage, that's a great option if you're no good for live people.
It means that, often, they can use the cadavar to learn about problems in people, and how they can find ways to find cures or prevention (not sure cures is the right word, but hopefully you know what i mean)

Actually, it takes two doctors to certify a death for a donor, only one if you are a non-donor. Also, having seen first hand on a number of occasions what extending life means, personally, I'd rather they let me go than leave me hooked up to machines for days. But that's just me.

I thought they were meant to change the law so everybody is a doner unless you have a card mentioning otherwise i.e. that you DONT want to donate. It hasn't been passed?
Even if you are registered now your family can still refuse so you have to make sure that the surviving know and will respect your decision (hence why I thought they pass the law)

I agree, it should be opt out not opt in. If you disagree with having your organs donated then you opt out- it catches those that would have wanted to donate but never got round to it.

I think we all should (unless we have a medical condition that means we are unable to) and I also have the probably unpopular view that religious "beliefs" being the reason to refuse your own child a life saving organ donation is very wrong- luckily the courts now often get involved and save the childs life (if under 12 I believe)

Am on the list and have been for years. But please make sure that you're family are aware and agree. Although they may not have a legal right to refuse most hospital will take thier objections in to account.

This is one of my 'touchy' subjects.
Have had HUGE rows about it with various family memebers. A relative of a relative's life was saved as a baby by some very kind person donating their childs kidneys, yet there are members of the same family that have refused to sign up to be donors (nearly wrote doner there)but when asked have said that they would accept an organ WTF!!

In my world (a) it would be an opt out system (b) if you refuse to donate for 'religious reasons etc you can't receive them

I choose to opt IN for religious reasons. God gave me a healthy body so far, touch wood, and a lot else besides. If I can, I will donate my bits and bobs as I hope to go somewhere they won't be needed!

DrSeuss, but it is a different point ('it takes two doctors to certify a death for a donor, only one if you are a non-donor.') I am concerned that unscrupulous doctors will not properly fight for donor's life if there is a list of organs to be harvested. Sounds gruesome but it is all based just on trust in the end. Plus, how many times doctors were genuinely wrong in their prognosis? Someone very close to me was in coma and given 'no chance' by some doctors. He is happy and hugely recovered 10 years on. I hate to think what may have happened if there was any pressure put on the relatives back then to switch all off.

If is a difficult subject...

On the register as are all my children and DH, IMO much easier to have teh children registered so, if god forbid, you were put in the situation of having to give permission you are backed up by your non-grieving decision, if that makes sense.

Whist on the subject please, please register to donate stem cells or bone marrow. I have a good friend whose 40 year old DH, was saved from Leukemia by a donation from a donor on the Anthony Nolan register. He is now the Dad of 2 gorgeous childrena and I know they think of the donor every day for the life they gace back to him.

I also work with someone whose own stem cells saved the life of a 6 year old girl. Yes he had to have an operation and was off work for 2 weeks, but he would tell you it was worth every moment for what he knows it achieved.

www.anthonynolan.org/

They send you a testing kit which you use and send back (no blood needed, it is a saliva test)

bemybebe, the doctors would not know if you were a donor, as this is not looked at until after you die.

Let's hope someone else is more trusting if saving your life involves a donated organ.