to ask your thoughts on organ denation

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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?

They can take what they like from me when I die. I’m also willing to have my body used for medical research/ education.

I won’t need it, on account of being dead.

@siwel123 while some organs can be donated by living donors you can't be compelled to donate organs while you are alive. An opt-out donor system would only apply to the organs of a person once they are dead. There is no way in which you could be forced to donate organs while you are alive, even if you have opted to be an organ donor.

The only reason that 2 of my friends still have their husbands is because of organ donations. Otherwise they would both have been widows in their 20s. When I’m dead, they can have the lot

@Teateaandmoretea it can be a very long and drawn out process, which is sometimes comforting for families who crave as much time as possible with their loved one, regardless of their knowledge that no more can be done, but for other families who have come to a place of acceptance that the end has come, it can be quite tortuous.

Specialist Nurses for Organ Donation (SNODs) do amazing work, and their hours are quite barmy, often working for 24 hours at a time to see through a case. But they don't encourage donation at all costs. They really do work with families to help them make a decision that they are comfortable with, and sometimes that is no, which a SNOD will support and respect.

I'm signed up for everything barring corneas, I know it's absolutely illogical and it's something I'm trying to work on, but just not there yet, I try and reason that my eyes are pretty poor anyway but I know that's not legitimate. I signed up when I registered at my GP and via my driving licence. I've also been a regular blood donor all my adult life and want to donate umbilical cord blood, when baby is born.

All good. It sounds daft but I would feel wierd having no or a limited organs while alive. However I would happily donate blood and bone marrow while alive.

After death they can have everything.

I want my organs donated. DH doesn't and, if it came to it, I'll respect his decision. We've spoken about it at length.

Do it, no hesitation.

They can have literally any part of my body they please. I won't need it - the part of my that's worth anything will have moved on to pastures new :D
Also strongly in favour of an opt out system and believe that if you would accept an organ you should be willing to donate.

They're welcome to any bit of me that they can use. I am disgusted that family members are allowed to override clearly expressed wishes. It's different if the deceased hasn't said what they want to happen, but if they have signed the register, I think their right to decide what happens to their body should be as determinative as their right to dispose of their property by making a will.

www.ukcolumn.org/article/no-time-to-die

I can’t imagine why anyone who could wouldn’t. So few people can actually donate but if you could, I really don’t see why not. I think it should be an opt out system.

No mixed feelings. I would want all my organs donated. And same for my family (though it is up to them). You're dead anyway. You can help someone else at no cost whatsoever. Why wouldn't you?

Initially I opted for everything except my corneas but then I read an article that said many people were going blind who would have been able to see again had their been more donors available. Lots of people have an issue with them. I realised then and there how stupid it was and changed it to everything. What do I need my eyes for if I’m being burned/buried?!

I’ve been registered as a donor since I was a teenager and am a massive proponent of organ donation. As far as I’m concerned, they can have anything that will enable someone else to live a better life and I just wish there were the resources for the NHS to do much harder promotion on getting more people signed up.

I also have a rare blood type and have donated as much blood as I was allowed until I became ill from depleting my iron stores. Once I’m done being pregnant I will return to donating as much as my body can cope with. I’m also looking at signing up to be a marrow donor.

All of that said I am vehemently opposed to an opt-out system and would seriously consider opting out on principle if it were introduced. A massively unpopular opinion no doubt, but I believe bodily autonomy should be a fundamental right, not something you have to declare.

www.google.com/amp/s/nypost.com/2012/09/26/organs-taken-from-patients-that-doctors-were-pressured-to-declare-brain-dead-suit/amp/

This one.

It's a really hard subject to think and talk about. I agree wholeheartedly with the theory of it, and am a donor myself as are my DH and DDs. We've all openly spoken about our wishes but I hope to God to never find myself in the reality of having to sign that consent form.

I say that because my Uncle died aged 47 waiting for a heart transplant. Seeing him die of multiple organ failure and eventual sepsis from a ruptured bowel was horrifying. But, and this is my issue with it all, he was a chronic alcoholic who had abused his body for many many years despite plenty of warnings. He was only on the register as being in hospital for so long after a heart attack had dried him out...... it hadn't been a "choice" for him. And that's my issue. I can't help but think that if he'd had a new heart, he would have come out of hospital and gone right back to his old ways. I loved him but also was able to see his vulnerabilities. There are a lot of "grey" areas around organ donation, and I find it better not to think too hard about it all.

@Queenoftheblitz again, not really a credible scientific article is it? You've linked to a story in a populist newspaper about a lawsuit which hasn't yet been decided, meaning that the veracity of the claims made by the plaintiff has not been established.

You're welcome to your view. But I'm equally welcome to tell you that your view is poorly researched and based on 'evidence' so flimsy and lacking in credibility that it ought to be dismissed out of hand.

Not mixed at all. What is there to be mixed about? We don’t need our organs after we die and they might benefit someone else.

If you’ve got a rare blood type SK166 then not much is needed for donor blood- why would you be donating so much your own health is affected?

When I was doing cardio thoracic nursing, I read a really interesting article in one of the professional publications about personality changes following heart transplants.

The consultant who wrote it had lots of anecdotes and wanted to organise a proper research programme.
It all started when he actually knew the doner. In the post op follow up the recipient of the new heart mentioned that he now loved cats, and had always loathed them. The doctor knew the donor had been a real cat lover.
The story struck a chord with him and He started questioning patients and their spouses about any personality changes, and had lots of interesting stories.

I want cremated,why burnpetfevtpy good organs that could help several people. Take what you want I won’t need them.

Dh has been told he can donate any of my organs, but if he is ever in the situation where he needs to make that decision it will be his decision and he should do whatever he thinks is best for him and ds.

I hope if I had to make that decision I would have the strength to sign a form to consent for the harvesting of organs from a cherished partner or child, but I would never judge any grieving person who decided they couldn't cope.

@SockQueen she would have been on those teams 30 odd years ago, so I would have imagine things have changed somewhat.

I'd donate anything though. Thats why I have made sure all my family members know my wishes.

I live in in Ireland and have had a massive blood transfusion that saved my life. Whilst it realise its not an organ donation, it was a donation that saved my life. I cannot now become a blood donor in Ireland as I have received a transfusion, whereas I could in the UK.

Thats why I would always allow myself to be a donor.

California cathmidston has provided a link that also talks about use of anaesthetic. I am notgiving an opinion. The info is out there for any of us to read.