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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to think that organ donation should be opt in not opt out

217 replies

SodaStreamy · 12/07/2013 16:41

Wales is introducing an 'opt out' for organ donation.Scotland is watching to see if it's worth doing

Personally I don't think this is right

It's taking bits of a humans body without consent

The reasons I am not an organ donor are thus,

there are far too many people who have a dontated organs and change there behaviour and start displaying charactistics of the organ donars personality

I do not want anyone ever to think it's ok to take a bit of my body and put it in someone else and if it wanted it too happen I would tell yes , i'm an organ donor .

But if I don't want it to happen I do not think I hould have to sign a form saying my organs are not harvestable

OP posts:
Trills · 12/07/2013 16:43

YABU

CrapBag · 12/07/2013 16:44

YANBU.

Its our body and it should be up to us what we do with it. I am an organ donor except for 1 thing that I can't bear the thought of (yes I know I will be dead but still). DH isn't a donor but that's his choice and I have to respect that.

I don't believe in an opt out. It should be as it is now.

mynameisslimshady · 12/07/2013 16:45

I assume you would refuse an organ should you, or a loved one, need it too then. If you feel so strongly whats the big deal about opting out rather than opting in?

hermioneweasley · 12/07/2013 16:45

YABU, and frankly a little odd. Personality does not reside in kidney or liver. And even if it did, I would rather have a changed personality than be dead.

If you feel strongly while under an opt out system, you can opt out.

ImTooHecsyForYourParty · 12/07/2013 16:46

It isn't without consent though.
If you don't consent, you demonstrate this by opting out.
It just means that you have to act to say no rather than acting to say yes.

WestmorlandSausage · 12/07/2013 16:46

I 100% disagree with you - a system of opting out offers plenty of choice for people who for whatever (in your case slightly bizarre) reasons do not wish to be an organ donor on their death.

Original poster
SodaStreamy · 12/07/2013 16:46

and if any organ of mine failed I would not want receive an organ from anyone else .

Pulling part of of someone and keeping them on life support to 'harvest' their organs is all a bit to frankenstin

People die and when it is your time it is your time

Modern medicine is trying to play god

OP posts:
AMumInScotland · 12/07/2013 16:47

The thing is, a huge proportion of the population feel totally ok about being an organ donor but haven't signed up or had a conversation with their families, and so their organs are lost to the system on their death.

Which means that people who have very poor quality of life / life expectancy lose the chance of a massive improvement in their situation.

I would happily vote for an "opt out" system if anyone was asking. People who don't want to can then make a tiny little bit of effort to say so.

Oh and I seriously doubt the thing about the organ donor's personality. One National Enquirer article is not evidence that any such things happens. A basic understanding of the human brain would show why that is frankly nonsense.

squoosh · 12/07/2013 16:49

YABU.

I think opt out is a brilliant scheme, doubtlessly so will all those who benefit from it, many of whom who would previously have been appalled at the idea of an 'opt out' programme.

WestmorlandSausage · 12/07/2013 16:49

to put another spin on this thread there is an ongoing debate that people who choose to opt out should therefore be further down the waiting list if they ever need an organ themselves.

How would you feel about that OP?

jammiedonut · 12/07/2013 16:49

I think the opt out is for those with a strong view on the matter. Personally, if I'm happy that if I no longer have a use for my organs they will go to someone else. If I'm in a major accident and lose the ability to verbalise this/ communicate this in any way at least I know that they'll be used. There are probably more people that think the way I do than the way you do (that's not a criticism, I completely understand your point of view) and this is just an easier way of gaining the required information, as we've always had to opt in before. It's a massive shame that countless organs are not used because the patient had not taken the time to give their explicit consent when they probably would have been happy to donate.

littlepeas · 12/07/2013 16:49

I though the thing about people changing after receiving an organ was an urban myth - you know everyone has a friend of a friend of a friend to whom it really happened.

My mum insists she knows someone whose hair went from poker straight to curly following a blood transfusion. I don't believe her.

AMumInScotland · 12/07/2013 16:50

Playing God - yes, we should stop taking antibiotics and offering women caesareans when their baby is stuck and they are both going to die. Cos it was their time, of course Hmm

Original poster
SodaStreamy · 12/07/2013 16:50

I should not have to opt out!

It's my body , it's not up for graps for harvesting if I die.

It's mine .....if I opt in fine , but my body should not been seen as a medical toy

OP posts:
onedogandababy · 12/07/2013 16:50

Firstly, I believe that personality is in the brain, not in cells of organs of the body so wouldn't see that as a reason to not donate/receive.

Secondly, in this situation, consent would be deemed to be given by virtue of the fact that not opt-out has been made. (I am assuming that this is not applicable to under 16's/18's)

I think that if it bothers someone enough, they will opt-out. The problem is that many people don't have an objection to donation, but never get around to opting in.

If you opt-out I assume that you'd not be eligible to receive an organ either??

Trills · 12/07/2013 16:50

Feel free to opt out of all modern medicine if you think it is "playing God". Why do you get to choose where to draw the line?

mynameisslimshady · 12/07/2013 16:50

Would you also make the call for a loved one? Really? Could you deny your child a life saving transplant based on your beliefs?

squoosh · 12/07/2013 16:51

SodaStreamy 'and if any organ of mine failed I would not want receive an organ from anyone else.

Hmmmm.

What a very easy thing to say when one is not in need of a lifesaving organ donation.

OddBoots · 12/07/2013 16:51

I would agree with you if it was compulsory but I'm not sure your argument holds up when there is a simple way to opt out if you don't want to donate.

squoosh · 12/07/2013 16:51

You sound a bit overheated OP, have a cool drink and draw the blinds.

AMumInScotland · 12/07/2013 16:52

littlepeas I suspect your mum's friend might perhaps have gone to the hairdresser once she felt a bit better after the transfusion Grin

BuggerLumpsAnnoyed · 12/07/2013 16:52

Tbh I don't even think people should be able to opt out. There's not a good enough reason imo. But that's a whole other thread.

littlepeas · 12/07/2013 16:53

Would you give your dc a kidney if they needed one?

WestmorlandSausage · 12/07/2013 16:54

When it is your time it is your time

I have a dear friend who as a child received an organ from another young person who I assume must have died in an accident of some sort.

My friend grew up to live a happy life with still many years ahead of her.
Should my friend have been just left to die when she didn't have to? Depriving her and her family of a full lifetime?

If you really believe that then I feel sorry for you because not having that 'hope' and value in life and living must be awful.

AMumInScotland · 12/07/2013 16:55

"medical toy" - um, no, they aren't going to play with it because it's fun, or even educational.

You have to go to special websites to sign up to have your body used for medical experiments after you die - there's a brain bank that would love to 'play' with more brains if people aren't squeamish about the thought.