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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask your thoughts on organ denation

433 replies

UnicornShapedCloud · 16/05/2018 20:44

I have been thinking alot recently about organ donation after watching a programme about it.

I have really mixed feelings about it,

Whats your views on donating your own or your DC organs after death?

OP posts:
Elphame · 16/05/2018 21:39

I would be a living donor but I've opted out of the organ donation scheme. M y family know my feelings on the matter and I hope they will respect them.

Voice0fReason · 16/05/2018 21:39

It's a no brainer for me - a close friend is alive due to a heart transplant.

I have numerous nurse friends who are all registered donors. I don't believe that there is a shred of truth in the allegation that the Drs won't try as hard if they know you are a donor. They don't even know you are a donor until you are beyond hope.

TarragonChicken · 16/05/2018 21:39

I am on the organ donor register and my family know that. I know that they would like their organs to be used to help someone else in the highly unlikely situation they die in a manner that would allow it. What's much more likely is tissue donation: corneas, skin and bone can be taken hours after someone has died.

Queenoftheblitz · 16/05/2018 21:40

California you are right. It was the wrong link i put up.
There are plenty of other articles out there to google - the NYPost have a good one.
The title to this thread is what are your thoughts on organ donation?
I am not expressing my thoughts but am saying we all have a right to look into the issue.
I'm not trying to scaremonger at all.

Dinosauratemydaffodils · 16/05/2018 21:41

I would donate (am on the organ donor register) but I wouldn't accept a transplant or blood from someone else for myself.

Lougle · 16/05/2018 21:41

Organ donation is very tightly regulated. There are many reasons why someone may not meet the criteria for organ donation, even if the patient was a registered donor/family are keen. Doctors do not base their clinical treatment decisions on potential for donation. What tends to happen is that when it becomes clear that a patient is likely to be reaching end of life, the treating team would refer to the Specialist Organ Donation Team, who would review the patient's history, and either say "Thank you for referring X to us. Unfortunately, due to x, y, z, they would not be suitable as an organ/tissue donor, so we will not make contact with patient/relatives", or "...may be eligible to donate organs/tissues if they so wish. We will visit to discuss further." The Specialist Nurses for Organ Donation are trained to have such discussions, and they will respectfully introduce the subject of donation and explore the wishes of the patient/known previously expressed wishes (in the case of a patient unable to talk for themselves)/wishes of the relatives. They will also cover the range of donation options (including tissues).

Patients are not under-treated, not death hastened if donation is expected. It is illegal. There are time limits for donation if treatment is withdrawn, and if a patient doesn't die within the time limit, donation can't go ahead. The treatment is withdrawn because it's right for the patient, and if they then don't die 'in time' for donation, that's just the way it is - nobody tuts, the patient is the priority, always.

jaseyraex · 16/05/2018 21:42

They can take anything of use from me once I'm gone, I won't need them anymore! Myself and DS are on the register. DH hasn't got round to it yet but knows I'd donate his organs if anything happened and he's okay with that.
DH was a bit unsure about putting kids on the register but we had another DS born with a heart problem. He needed a transplant which he sadly never got and is no longer with us. If anything happened to any of my other children I'd be very comforted knowing that they could help someone else's live.

steppemum · 16/05/2018 21:42

I have no interest in my body once I am gone, and would donate everything. Same goes for my dc, if they went I would. donate everything.
I have always been a passionate supporter, and I do firmly believe that the person is not in the body. Having seen people die, once the person has left it is just a shell, which no-one needs.

My niece received a heart transplant last year, aged 10. What an incredible difference that has made to her, given her a chance at life.

SpaSushi · 16/05/2018 21:43

If you would accept an organ for yourself, your child, or your loved one then you should be a donor, otherwise it's just hypocritical.

Organs can't be used after you are gone but could save one, or many lives.

RubaDubMum89 · 16/05/2018 21:47

I registered as a donor but declined to give my eyes. For me, personally, I think the eyes are such a huge part of who you are, I, selfishly, didn't want them to be looking out of someone else. I've not explained that very eloquently, but it is what it is.

Everything else? Have it, it's just useless tat to me when I'm dead. The same goes for DD, if I was asked if I'd donate her organs should the unthinkable happen, I'd do it, no questions asked.

SauvignonBlanche · 16/05/2018 21:48

I have no mixed feelings about accepting organs, my DH wouldn’t be here now without his transplant.

Likewise I have no mixed feelings about donating mine, or the DCs organs should the scenario arise.

FairyLightBlanket45 · 16/05/2018 21:50

Due to previous cancer, my organs and blood are not wanted - doctor confirmed this to me several years ago.
However, my whole body would be very much appreciated for research and medical training purposes. They are welcome to it when my time comes, if that brings any new medical solution to the table I would be proud. Surgery has to be practised somewhere...

Iwantitidontwantit · 16/05/2018 21:51

I fully believe once you are gone, your are gone. They are welcome to any part of me.

My Dad received an organ donation over 20 years ago. Without that he would have died within a year. That has meant he's met all his grandchildren and they will all have their own memories of him. We will all be forever grateful to his donor for that

Chattymummyhere · 16/05/2018 21:51

tarragon bone donation? That’s a new one on me that’s got to be a short list? And general skin donation. I’m not sure how I feel about bones and skin to be honest. That’s parts of me you would notice if I was missing a leg bone or my arm skin was gone.

KatnissMellark · 16/05/2018 21:52

Whip em out, pass em on (for me). Something less flippant but same message for any loved ones I had to make the decision for.

Teateaandmoretea · 16/05/2018 21:53

I have been through it with DM, it is what she wanted. It was in all honesty the worst 18 hours of my life while they were matching her organs with recipients/ keeping her alive. The idea of part of her living on is in no way a comfort to me at all or to DF but we seem to be alone in that according to social media.

That said I am personally on the register and accept that the living need organs more than the dead. I am also a blood donor. I would consent to donation of next of kin's organs again. However, if it was me in ITU and my dc couldn't hack it then my first priority is to them. And I wouldn't judge any relative for saying no, having been through it myself.

HellToupee · 16/05/2018 21:55

My dear friend is alive- and making every day count! - thanks to a double lung transplant. She was on the brink of succumbing to Pulmonary Hypertension.

Both DC and I have donor cards. I had a discussion about this with a friend who felt it would not be right to be a donor for religious reasons. I reminded her that her God apparently makes everyone whole again when they enter Heaven...so no excuses really.

PoisonousSmurf · 16/05/2018 21:56

My dad won't as he thinks that the doctors will harvest him and not bother to save him. But he's in his 70s. Won't his 'bits' be too old now?

siwel123 · 16/05/2018 21:57

Can I ask 're any organs asked to be taken when alive? For example if I was a fit 35 year old and someone needed an organ I can live without a part of e.g. a lung? Can I opt out of any of those donations? And just donations when I die and blood and bone marrow when alive?

echt · 16/05/2018 21:59

My dad won't as he thinks that the doctors will harvest him and not bother to save him. But he's in his 70s. Won't his 'bits' be too old now?

Lymph glands are used for research.

TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 16/05/2018 22:00

I am on the list to donate anything. DH is down to donate anything except his corneas - which wouldn’t be suitable as he has a condition affecting them that means he may need a corneal transplant at some point.

TheCriminalMind · 16/05/2018 22:00

If you would accept an organ for yourself or a family member (as I would) then you really should be okay with donating.

I would happily give my organs up (if I was allowed - due to a medical condition, I cannot).

It should be an opt out thing.

Teateaandmoretea · 16/05/2018 22:00

Poisonous they will transplant kidneys up to 75 I think. This is the thing - people expect it to be partner/ children but it is more likely you will have to decide for parents probably.

Swivel donor card is just after you are dead, it isn't for living donors.

Elledouble · 16/05/2018 22:01

siwel123 I believe liver and kidney donations can be made by living people.

CaliforniaDream · 16/05/2018 22:02

@Queenoftheblitz what link did you mean to post?

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