to not want to help someone to live after my death?

[dolldaggabuzzbuzz]

I am on the organ donor register. I am willing to donate all my organs to those who may need them in the event of my untimely death.

However, if the new system of presumed consent is brought in, I am opting out. I can't explain why I feel like I do about this. Am I being unreasonable?

"it takes away your sense of making an altruistic gesture if it's a compulsory thing. I think this is quite true, but I wouldn't opt out of it."

But it isn't compulsory. You just have to say no instead of saying yes. Compulsory would be if you didn't have the right to say no.

Presumed consent doesn't mean that your body belongs to the state. If that was the case, then there would be no opt out.

I feel that if you are not prepared to donate your organs, then you should be automatically barred from receiving any should the need arise.

Some people try to be control freaky even after death.

I am also with the person who said you're dead so you don't need them.

"it takes away your sense of making an altruistic gesture if it's a compulsory thing."

Would you feel better if you got a little medal? Or a letter signed by the Secretary of State for Health thanking you? Sheesh - I am constantly amazed by people!

I want to know how hard it would be to opt out. And if you did, would they still bother asking your next of kin? Would they use your organs if your next of kin said they could, even if you had opted out?

I'd think not, but at the moment the next of kin can refuse to give consent even if you are on the register, so it doesn't take a huge leap to think it could work the other way round.

I'm not sure how I feel about presumed consent, I think I would need to know more details before I could form an opinion.

Personally, I don't like the idea of my organs being removed from my dead body, so I'm not on the register and I would be unlikely to give consent for my family if I were in that awful position. I don't know why I don't like it, I just don't. And yes, I know that makes me awful because I would gladly accept someone else's to save my family's life.

Those that don't care what happens when you're dead how about your bank presumes consent to take all your money? After all, you won't be needing it?

TheMagnificentBathykolpian pedant.

OP, that's a ridiculous comparison. Your family will be able to use your money once you've gone; what the hell are they going to do with your organs, share them out amongst themselves? Have a roast? come on!!

What on earth does it matter if it does take away the sense of making an altruistic gesture? It isn't actually very altruistic to get your happies from a sense of satisfaction at what a good person you are.

dolldaggabuzzbuzz same applies - I'd be dead so I have no use for it.

And what of those who are unable to advocate for themselves and decline?

And how widely publicised will the opt out system be? They don't make the most of the opportunities to encourage those who want to donate,to do so,so I don't trust them to publicise the opting out option either.

No, you leave money to your family. I would leave my body parts to them too if they needed them.

As someone who's FIL died horribly waiting for a lung transplant, I hope that the Organ Donor register does change to an opt out rather than opt in.

YABU - too many people die waiting for donor organs.........we really dont need them when we are dead.........I think it is a very sensible idea!

Yep, bubblecoral - that does make you awful.

Georgimama that was the radio debate

LetThereBeRock makes a point - her relative who is awaiting organ donation is against presumed consent.

Perhaps this is because people who need organ donation would rather it be from someone who chose to donate rather than have it just taken....

Then again, an organ is an organ and if I need it to live then whether the person donating actively consented or not would be furthest from my mind.

OP - I actually take back my YABU, as it's your choice, but still like I said you have actively consented so the end result is still the same

Don't be absurd. My personal property has a persisting value. My organs are either going to rot or be burned. They are sod all use to anyone once I am cold.

I'm with everyone who thinks that assumed consent is the way to go, however there was something in the news about concern that it would erode trust in Doctors, eg. that Doctors would view patients more as a potential source of organs than a person when advising families to pull the plug.

In fact I have now found a link from the Independant, quote from text below:

^"Dr Sharon Blackford, a dermatologist from Swansea, is proposing the motion calling for the BMA to change its current position.

She said: "I and my colleagues are concerned if we move to presumed consent, it could damage trust in doctors. If someone is in intensive care, families may feel doctors just want to harvest the organs."^

Does this have anything to do with your concerns?

If my family wanted my organs, they could have them too.

I suspect they'd prefer fish.

Exactly Letthereberock

Oh jeez. Are you one of those 'just to make a point' people. The ones who said 'well I don't smoke but I feel like taking it up because of the smoking ban' etc. And 'I don't like being told what to do'.

Reminds me of being at school. YABU.

I think that people who would accept an organ but not give one back should be ashamed of themselves.

I agree with Karma I think that once presumed consent is in then if you have opted out and then find yourself needing an organ you ought to be at the very bottom of the list of who ought to get it.

Enough is not being done to encourage blood and organ donation.