The problem with these discussions is that those who are so pro organ donation shout down anyone else who doesn’t feel as they do and so a balanced discussion is impossible. Even though there are people on this thread who have been through the process and have experienced anything but the compassionate empathetic response which the television programmes talk about.
Clearly organ donation is a fantastic thing when it is handled correctly, and from my own point of view I’ll be dead and they can take what they want although I doubt with my health problems much will be worth having. But it’s a conversation I did end up having with my family a couple of years ago after I ended up unexpectedly on life support with the possibility of no return.
But I think it’s one which my mum will struggle with if the time happened and at the end of the day they’re the ones left living with the decision not me.
And very clearly judging by the comments on this thread harvesting is not this dignified compassionate process which people use as a justification to shout down anyone who is not in favour of donation. That needs to be very clearly thought through and discussed without the victims being shouted down.
As for those stating that you shouldn’t be allowed to receive an organ unless you would be prepared to donate, where does that end? Not prepared to donate sperm/eggs/embrio’s? Not entitled to IVF then. Play sport? No orthopaedic treatment entitlement then or cruciate ligament treatment.
Had a fault accident? No blood transfusion for you then? Have a cancer which is lifestyle induced? Sorry, no treatment there. The NHS could save millions, but somehow I don’t think that people would agree with that. Much, much easier to throw out a statement you know you’re never likely to have to follow through.
For a site which blatantly promotes bodily autonomy the black and white blinkered view on this by some is astounding.
Presumably then Jimmy Saville did no wrong by doing what he did to dead bodies? Or alderhey in the organs scandall where they retained children’s organs for years? Because you should apparently lose your bodily autonomy when you die.
FWIW I know people on the donor register who say that they would never ever want to receive an organ from someone whose organs were harvested against their’s or their family’s wishes. It would feel like stealing from the dead.
And as a last point, while I am still prepared to donate my organs in the event of my untimely death, I wish my family, the ones who actually know me to be able to make that decision rather than handing over my bodily autonomy to the state which is a slippery slope IMO. So given the family still have the overriding say, if opt-out becomes law in the UK I will be opting out.