Organ donation should be opt out.

[m1nniedriver]

Just that really. If people have strong feelings on the matter then they are free to opt out, I really fail to see the issue with it.

I mean that my organ donation is a gift, not that my body is a gift (maybe 20 years ago)

I mean that my organ donation is a gift, not that my body is a gift grin (maybe 20 years ago)

YANBU. Opt out, and next of kin cannot override it.

It will be interesting to see what happens in Wales when the new law comes in. I'm hoping loads of people opt out, and the donation level goes down. That will show those in authority who is really in charge.

I will also like to see if any clinical staff would actually go against relatives' wishes. I bet none will. Which makes a mockery of an opt-out system in the first place.

I donated my husband's organs when he died in February. It was a no brainer for me and I still cannot quite comprehend the reasons why people say no.
One of the specialist nurses recently told me that she doesn't think it should be opt-out because 'it's not a gift if you are forced to give it' which I thought was the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Who says it has to be a gift.
So I think YANBU it should be opt out and families should not be able to say no.
I also agree that the most important thing you can do is talk to your family and next of kin because research tells us that when people say no, it's because they do not know what their loved one wanted.

Really it should be a mandatory part of registering for health care in the UK. Every person has to complete a form saying "yes" or "no" to organ donation, which they can then change at a later date through their GP if they wish. Personally I don't think NOK should even be asked. It puts some people in an awful position in an awful moment.

But otherwise, if that wasn't possible, I agree that it should be an opt out system. I think it's pretty childish to say that makes your body the "property of the state". Er...no. It means that unless a person says otherwise, it is assumed they would want to help someone else in need.

Plus, as many others have pointed out, at the minute your organs aren't your own anyway. It's really your NOK who get the deciding vote, which is totally not on in my view.

Yes, it's just one form. But the sad fact is that many people don't really think about organ donation until it's too late. Putting the onus on those who actively DON'T want their organs to be donated is fair.

I also agree those who opt out of organ donation shouldn't be eligible. The arguments people have made about not treating smokers with cancer and that are not comparable. One is a lifestyle choice that you yourself have inflicted upon yourself, and only affects others as far as money goes really. Some people will be in and out of hospital with broken bones through hobbies. It sort of balances out. With organ donation, you are saying that you will ACTIVELY TAKE PRECIOUS, PHYSICAL, FINITE ITEM FROM SOMEONE ELSE, but in the same circumstances, would refuse to give to someone in the same position. That is nothing but pure, unadulterated selfishness and arrogance.

They are completely incomparable circumstances.

As the saying goes, you have to be in it to win it.

I can't get my head around anyone that wouldn't donate their own or their children's organs but would accept one if they needed one. You either agree/believe in organ donation or you do not. I want to be cremated when I die so it would be utterly insane to incinerate healthy organs when lives could otherwise be saved.

Psuedonym - relatives should have the say over what happens after death - not the state, not nurses and not doctors.

No, a person should have the say over what happens after death. So if they have said they want to be an organ donor, the relatives should not be allowed to veto this.

And why would anyone want the donation level to go down? Do you not understand what donated organs are used for?

I agree with opt out. That would have to mean opt out of receiving as well as giving though.

Who says it has to be a gift
If it's not a gift, it's a commodity. The thought fills me with horror.

would refuse to give to someone in the same position. That is nothing but pure, unadulterated selfishness and arrogance
it would be utterly insane to incinerate healthy organs
I agree with both of these sentiments. I might judge, I might sneer. However, I don't see them as good arguments for removing the right of those people in need to receive organs. Because that would be making a moral judgement about who is worthy enough to receive an organ (based on reciprocity). And that won't end well. It's a very basic principle of the NHS that I don't want tarnished.

"I still cannot quite comprehend the reasons why people say no."

I am very pro donation but I understand why, in their distress, they may so no. Families often decline because they feel their loved one's body has been through so much and they want them to rest. Logic dictates that they are dead, there is no resting but not everyone is logical when they've lost a loved one, especially in tragic circumstances.

Shineyshoes10 yours is the most appalling post I have ever read on mn and I have been here for over ten years. really you wish another poster's relative dies? have reported.

To support Shiney, I think the meaning was discernible.

I would hate for it to be opt out.

I am quite happy with NOK getting to decide. I will be dead and I want them to make the decision that they are more comfortable with. My family knows I wish to donate my organs, all I can hope for is that they will honour those wishes.

They are my organs and they belong to me. When I die I can no longer have a say obviously, so then I want that choice to me that of my loved ones.

I like the system as it is and saying that if you aren't willing to donate you shouldn't receive is bollocks.

It's crap that Shineyshoes10 post was deleted.

What the fuck? It was obvious what she meant and she didn't once say she hopes someone's loved one dies.

MNHQ a bit too quick on the delete button there.

@U2HasTheEdge

It's crap that Shineyshoes10 post was deleted.

What the fuck? It was obvious what she meant and she didn't once say she hopes someone's loved one dies.

MNHQ a bit too quick on the delete button there.

Hi there
as this part of the post was addressed to someone - it seemed to us to be an utterly beyond the pale personal attack.
Thanks
MNHQ

. Sorry for your loss, Shiny

I'm very sorry, shiney

Shiney

I stand by what I said. MNHQ should not have deleted it. It clearly wasn't a personal attack.

I'm with you, Shiny. So sorry about your daughter

Olivia, possible to review the accusatory nature of the message you left? It makes it look like Shiney said something terrible, when she was actually misunderstood. I would feel very upset at that, regardless of the subject.

Shiney I remember your thread and I believe you have triplets with Cystic Fibrosis too? You have more than enough heartache, I find it hard to believe you would wish suffering upon someone else. The deletion and follow up message from HQ was unacceptable.

I am waiting for a kidney, I have been for two years, I have rare HLA matches so statistically I'm b*ggered..... Friends and family have been tested but none are matches.

I don't think that an opt out system is the best way forward, I'm not opposed to it in principle, but it causes more negative responses than positive.

We need to make it something everyone is aware of, we need DISCUSSION between families, you need to make your NOK aware (whatever you decide).

We need to prompt people to CHOOSE to sign up (and share their decission with family) at every possible chance - driving licence, TV licence renewal, anything!

Educating people and normalising it is key.

Also, as far as I understand, hospitals have the legal right to use organs from donors who have signed up but would never go against the families wishes because of the negative press coverage and distress it would cause. It would do more damage to the cause to start going against NOKs wishes.

I find it so depressing that before the recent Channel 5 series 'The gift of life' there has been so little publicity about organ donation. My life is on hold, because of dialysis I can't do so many things, I feel like death most of the time, I can't have babies, have no energy, a restricted diet and constant discomfort and pain. A transplant won't fix everything, it will open up a new raft of post transplant, immunosuppressed problems, but ultimately it is my best hope at a normal life......