To ask you not to leave it until it's too late.....

[KnappShappey]

to discuss organ donation with your family and next of kin.

New statistics released today show that organ donation has dropped by 5% for the first time in 10 years.....

Only 58% of families allowed organ donation to go ahead despite the wishes of their loved ones.

Don't leave it to your family to struggle with the decision once you have gone, discuss it today........

You can register online and share your decision on Facebook to raise awareness amongst friends.

Michael Schumacher was never brain dead. He was kept in a medically induced coma for a while to reduce brain swelling. Although they may well have discussed organ donation (pure speculation), he has never really been a candidate because he was never dead!

Brain stem death and persistent vegetative state are 2 different things. Organ donation cannot happen from person in a persistent vegetative state as they are not dead and usually breathe independently.

They have a very thorough test for brain stem death. Organs would never be taken unless they had carried out these tests and confirmed that there was no chance of recovery.
Donation would often be discussed before this happens though, and I think that is where the scare stories come from that the doctors want their organs and won't try to save them. It's just not true, they are just opening up the discussion. If the patient is not confirmed as brain stem dead, then they would continue to treat them in the hope that they would recover.

I do understand why relatives refuse permission, I don't think anyone has suggested that they do it without thought, but I don't think that they should be allowed to over rule the wishes of the person themselves.
People are allowed to specify their wishes for their estate in their Will, without relatives being able to over-rule (with some exceptions), no matter how much it upsets some of the relatives. I don't see why organ donation should be any different. It's not the relatives' choice.

Oh Lemony that must have been so very hard for you :(

Myself, DH and DD (20w) are on the register. I hope to have to never face the prospect but I'd be annoyed if anyone overrode my decision to donate.

The only thing we've said no to is corneas, everything else we'd be happy to donate.

Such a shame it's on the decrease when it could help people but if it's never been discussed before I can see why it'd be a difficult decision

When I was a donor back in the UK, I originally said no to corneas as well, as I'm very squeamish about eyes. Then I read something about how amazing a transplanted cornea can be for the recipient and I changed my mind. Giving the gift of sight is magical and was a good incentive for me to overcome my squeamishness. After all, it's only really the glass in the window to the soul, not the actual window. :)

I registered myself when I renewed my driving licence but don't have a card. Is that normal?

Really want to donate.

Dd had a heart problem when she was born.

She didn't need a transplant but two serious operations.

While we were there we met other children who had needed transplants including a lovely little girl who adored high school musical (remember that?).

I would want to give people in a similar position a chance and I am quite healthy.

Have donated blood before and will do so again.

The only thing we've said no to is corneas
There are so many people who say no to corneas because they think it means they will remove the entire eye. They don't.
The cornea is the transparent cover that protects the front of the eye. That's all they take. It's similar to removing a contact lens. It is the least intrusive of all donations and can enable 2 people to see. Just imagine what difference that would make to 2 lives.
Donation can happen for about 12 hours after death.

there are currently two programmes on bbc iPlayer which make for very interesting (albeit emotional) viewing. The one is called transplant tales and is about the transplant service in Scotland but with reference to other parts of the UK, and the other is last night's episode of great ormond street.

My corneas are in fact probably the only part of me which would not be suitable for donation because of the amount of damage to both my eyes. I do however know people who have had cornea transplants though.

Transplant Tales (part 1 of 2)
BBC1 Tue 28th July 10:45pm

both parts available on iplayer BBC1 Scotland

Watching Transplant Tales (episode 2) and they are showing old television campaigns asking people to carry donor cards. It makes me wonder why there haven't been any recent television adverts prompting people to discuss their decision with their families (or have I missed it?)

They seem to be saying that there needs to be discussion but they don;t seem to be promoting discussion......