To opt-out of organ donation

[Jamiek80]

I am currently on the organ donor list however if the government make it opt out instead of opt in I will choose to opt out. I have a few reasons firstly though I’m on the register I actually have no clue what is involved, What can be taken, how much is taken, what happens to my body and a whole load more questions. Secondly if opt out what will happen can they just take everything I mean it’s possible to transplant a head these days so why not just store whole bodies just in case? Thirdly would the government make it simple to opt-out? Finally if you start opt out technically the government owns your body post death at what point do they decide they can take your organs while you’re still alive? I’m not against organ donation as I said I’m on the register but perhaps a better approach would be more available information, I wouldn’t even know how to re-register these days!

opting out because you're throwing your toys out of your pram is bonkers especially if you are a card carrying donor

Your NOK gets the final say on what can and cannot be taken.

Flame away. But my view is that I am not dead until my heart stops beating of its own accord.

People are resuscitated from the heart stopping.

Hearts can be kept beating in a lab without a body.

For these two reasons it is a very poor measure of death, which as you correctly stated is a process.

Donating organs for transplant is very different to donating your body for "medical research".

One being that if you die on a weekend you can be an organ doner but not donate your body unless your body is kept on ice.

I have a few medical conditions that mean I doubt much of my body could be used for transplant so it's going to Birmingham medical school.

Speaking as someone whose brother died at age 20 - ie at an age where his organs would have been very useful to people - my grieving would have been helped hugely if his organs could have been donated. I would love to think that my amazing brother had helped save people. It would give some meaning to the utterly devastating pointlessness of his death.

Sadly by the time he was found it was too late.

Believe me, I took no comfort from knowing that his whole body was lying in that coffin. I would have been much happier knowing that other people had been given a new chance at life because of my brother's kindness.

Op you definity need to read facts about organ donation.

They just don't throw away your body after an organ harvest.

And no they will not take your head.

But I shall opt out. Because like catwoozle and others I see it as something for me to give, not the state to take.

But surely that is still the case? You have the option to decide whether or not to opt out; by deciding not to do so, you are making a positive decision to stay on the donor register - therefore you are still giving your organs etc.

YABU

Its a pointless change until they change the rules that families can over rule the donors wishes.

If I make a will that my next of kin doesn't agree with, they don't get to say wooly can't leave her money there is should go here instead.

So why do they get the final say over what happens to my own body? If you are on the donor register, there should be no need to request family permission and certainly they should not go against my wishes just because someone else says they can't.

That will do more for increasing the numbers of organ donors than any change to opt in.

But I shall opt out. Because like catwoozle and others I see it as something for me to give, not the state to take

What a revolting attitude. "My organs could save the lives of multiple people but I'll happily let them die because I don't like the governments attitude to the fucking paperwork"

What is WRONG with people?

This thread is ludicrous.

My understanding is that with an opt-in system, your organs can't be harvested unless you've opted in, even if your family are happy for you to donate. With opt-out (assuming you haven't opted out) then the family can make the decision either way. It's just intended to allow organs to be donated by those who are happy to do so, but never got round to registering. It's not so that the government owns your body...

I live in Wales, so we're already opt-out. You can still specify which organs you're happy to donate and those that you aren't. FWIW, face is most definitely not on the list

@curryforbreakfast

Good point.

I've only just recently gone on the register, but will opt out if they change it.

Yabu and need to read a bit more about this and not jump to conclusions so much.

I've only just recently gone on the register, but will opt out if they change it.

Why? Why would anyone do that?

Haven’t RTFT but I have to say this

THERE HASNT BEEN A HEAD TRANSPLANT.

Google is your friend

It’s because the whole topic of death scares the shit out of people curry. I’m definitely not excusing petty attitudes like that though.

Education and conversation is key. We really need to break that taboo of death in society.

My mum had to have a transplant. She was one of the lucky ones and an organ came in the nick of time. She'd of been dead now if it hadn't. I've watched someone go through the whole procedure, from being assessed to go on the list, to being put on the list, to waiting for the call, to getting the call and actually having the operation. The whole process is treated with the dignity, respect and reverence that it deserves and I have no reason to believe that would be any different should it become opt out rather than opt in.

If you would accept an organ then in my opinion you should be willing to give one when the time comes. People are dying on that waiting list. Why wouldn't you want to help? They can take whatever is of any use from me. Someone gave my family an amazing gift and I would like to return the favour when I'm gone if at all possible.

A boyfriend in my late teens was killed in a car accident. His kidneys were transplanted. It made his death feel less futile and gave me something positive to hold onto. Talking to his mum years later, that is the thing she spoke about with happiness and pride.

opting out because you're throwing your toys out of your pram is bonkers especially if you are a card carrying donor

I have carried a card since my teens and am on the register. If they change to presumed consent I will opt out on principle. We are not property of the state.

Why? Why would anyone do that?

Because it took me long enough of my own free will to decide to go onto the list. And now I'm not happy about them having an assumed right to my body (or anybody elses) after death, like some sort of piece of cattle.

Basically, fuck 'em.

I assume that if you opt out, then you opt out of the whole concept of organ donation. You can't say you don't agree with it and then, a few years down the line find that you need an organ and change your mind. If you are against donation, you are against donation. Simple. I've been on the organ donation register since my mid-teens. I want to be cremated so it'd be pretty fucking idiotic not to be a donor!

I think not donating viable organs when you don't need them (dead) is terrible. Especially when you most likely would take one. I think organs should only be given to people who are previously registered on the donor list. To take but not give is incredibly selfish. What difference does it make to a family member? You are cut open and prodded anyway. Then your are burnt or buried. I think it would give someone who loves you comfort knowing you could save several people after you're gone. It certainly would me, and I wouldn't hesitate to let them take organs of loved ones if I knew it would give somebody else in this world a chance of life.

I'm against assumed donation, I'd still take an organ if I needed one, don't care in the slightest if that makes me a hypocrite.

Because it took me long enough of my own free will to decide to go onto the list. And now I'm not happy about them having an assumed right to my body (or anybody elses) after death, like some sort of piece of cattle.

So you decided to donate your organs, of your own free will. Which you would still be doing under the opt out system, because you have the free will to opt out. So nothing at all would actually change for you.
It's just an attitude problem. Yours. You would let people die out of spite because you don't like a system that only has one purpose: to save more lives easily.

Basically, fuck 'em

Well aren't you a fucking peach. I hope you opt out of ever getting an organ.

Nothing anyone says will change my opinion, if they want to increase organ donation numbers, increase drives to do that, increase advertising spending, increase asking people at all avenues of medical care. I don't agree with them saying; "fuck you, we're having your organs, whispered unless you tell us otherwise"

And now I'm not happy about them having an assumed right to my body

Who’s ‘them’? The NHS, The pathologists, the consultants and nurses? The patient? The patients family?? It’s not the government or ‘the establishment’. They’ve got nothing to do with it. How would it benefit them anyway? There’s no money in saving lives.

If opt out comes in it’ll change nothing. You filling in the form to get on the register is exactly the same as filling in a form to opt out.

But yes, fuck ‘em. I’m sure those innocent dying people that would benefit will totally understand why you’re being so petty.