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!

Nanny0gg

To expand a little bit that is my dilemma. I am of the firm belief that the people left behind are the important ones when it comes to death. I wouldn't want to take that decision out of his hands.... even though he has effectively taken the decision out of my hands when it comes to donating his organs by having strong irrational views.

This may lead to me opting out of any presumed consent register.

Why have you mentioned opened caskets a few times when I have never heard of anyone actually doing this (maybe in Ireland or catholic communities years ago).

Shabbs what a wonderful tribute to your son.

Donating organs for transplant is very different to donating your body for "medical research".
I believe the card offers you different choices about what exactly you are donating.

Can't find anything on the NHS site about face transplants. Can you post the link? Unless it was the American site a pp put up earlier, if it was you clearly weren't reading properly. You also haven't answered everyone asking why you were happy to sign up but would happily remove yourself from the list if opt in was put in place.

It is already 'opt out here in Wales rather than 'opt in'. I have opted out online and it was very simple.

I completely get where you are coming from, OP. Organ donation should be just that - a donation, freely given, not a state sponsored obligation.

I am on the list but I never intend to actually become an organ donor. I hope I live a long life and die in old age! People seem to forget that, apart from altruistic kidney donation, you mostly have to be dead first. It's not like giving blood.

I've carried a donor card since my teens, and all my family know I am extremely pro transplant.

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

'When you die your body becomes property of the coroner anyway.'

Is that really the legal position? I thought no-one owned a corpse, and that it didn't become the property retry of the Coroner (though the Coroner can take custody after a death until all necessary investigations are completed)

You can specify only certain organs- lots of people opt out of eyes and skin. I’m not sure why you are currently a donor but would stop if it became a policy. There are strict criteria for donation, lots of people aren’t suitable due to the way they die. I also believe that if you opt out for yourself or on your children’s behalf, then you should also opt out if accepting any organs as I can not understand a rationale where it’s acceotable to receive them from someone but not to provide them if you pass in a way that organ retrieval is possible.

Blimey OP, dramatic much?!

Your blind ignorance of the topic is the problem here. There is an abundance of information about organ donation that you can access in seconds. I’m not sure why you think it’s hard work.

If this is something that really worries you, you need to get clued up. Dying is an important life event you know and there are 100s of decisions to make.

Here’s just some things I’ve picked out from your posts:

You need to get a firm grip on the difference between donating your body to medical science and donating your organs. In neither case the government own your body, even in an opt out situation (look up definition of ‘donation’).

You will always have the final say over what’s donated, as you do now. When you put yourself on the register (but would take yourself off if it changed to opt out ) you will have ticked what you are willing to donate if those organs are healthy enough. As far as I know, heads and faces aren’t on the list

There are stringent rules around tissue donations and sampling. When I say stringent, I mean strict as fuck. It’s a massive deal for pathology departments and hospitals everywhere. See The Human Tissue Act 2004.

Please stop being hysterical now and get informed. Once you have enough correct information then make the decision that is the right one for you and you alone.

"I also believe that if you opt out for yourself or on your children’s behalf, then you should also opt out if accepting any organs"

I think this is absolutely wrong.

I support the current policy, whereby the only things that matter are clinical priority and quality of match.

It seems fair to me that either they assume consent, or they only offer blood/organs etc to those on the register. If you're not willing to give yours for the common good, I don't think you should benefit from anyone else's largesse.

I'm delighted to see the overwhelming majority of posters would donate, if the situation arose. I've carried a donor card since I became an adult, am on the register and anyone close to me knows my wishes. I've told them that if they say no, I'll come back and haunt them.

I lost my best friend of 20 years because of the lack of donations. This year, I lost another good friend. She was a really kind and generous person, and in her death, she managed to save 4 lives by donating organs.

I agree about restricting transplants to those who haven't opted out. No give, no get seems fair to me.

Firstly it is certainly not possible to transplant a head.

you are already on it so why would the government changing their policy affect you?

I would suggest you do more research and educate yourself better.

My view is if you would accept an organ when in need or you would let your child accept an organ then you should be on the register

Well I hope if you or anyone in your family needs a transplant after your opt out you don't accept it

Well I hope if you or anyone in your family needs a transplant after your opt out you don't accept it

This has come up time and time again. If the op personally wants to decline a transplant because of her views, fine but why on earth do people keep suggesting her kids suffer because of them? We treat the children of jehovahs witnesses with blood transfusions because they aren’t responsible for their parents’ beliefs. Why should receiving a donor organ be any different?

Shabbs
What an amazing little boy your Matt was xx

I would happily support a system whereby adults who choose to opt out are exempt from receiving organs. And after that back to compatibility and clinical need as normal. That would focus a few minds.

As for organ donation, I have carried a donor card as long as I can remember.
I could think of no greater gift than any of my organs.. and it comforts me to think that should I be able to donate organs then a part of me will live on.

Whichever PP said the coroner owns yoir body after death is 100% wrong

The coroner is there to determine cause of death and refer to the appropriate agencies if needed. A coroner isn’t necessarily needed for every person that does e.g if you’ve been in hospital with a diagnosed terminal condition and die in hospital

I'm on the donor register, I don't really mind what happens to my body when I die. It's not like it's any use to me anymore!
I'd even consider donating my body to medical science. I feel if I can be of benefit to anyone, I'd rather do so than go to waste.
I've started donating blood regularly, and I'd also like to do egg donation (I don't intend on having children of my own).

I think if you want to opt out that's your decision, but it should come with the caveat that you aren't eligible to receive an organ should you need one.

I love the thought of my organs being used for donation. As I don't believe in an afterlife, I would take great comfort knowing part of me is living on and while doing so, helping someone else live out their life.

I will respect the wishes of any of my family depending on what they want to do obviously.

You seem ill informed, selfish and lazy. If you opt out you should absolutely not be eligible to receive an organ should you need it.

Of course no one will take organs whilst you are still a live functioning body and it's ridiculous to opt out because you think this.

They can have every part of me after I'm gone, my family can have a memorial for me if they wish.
I suggest you do some research instead of sounding like an idiot on the internet!