Donor consent law is being changed...

[flirtygirl]

Aibu to have expected more information before they changes the law, did they do a consultation? I feel miffed that it is now going to be deemed consent and you have to opt out.

But what if the system is down or the opt out which is digital and online, did not get stored properly? What about when you move and change address? Do you have to tell every medical practitioner manually as well?

There is no info it seems on what this will mean. If you have info or any helpful links please let me know, thanks

There’s a stunning level of ignorance running through this thread and the OP.

The other issue I have with "organ donation" is, that it does not state who will receive your organs. Is it someone who is genuinely ill, no fault of their own? Or is it someone who through life choice is in need replacement parts?

Are we only treating the ‘deserving’ now?

This really only arms the medical team looking after a person an inch more ground in the conversation about donation that will happen if you die in the incredibly rare circumstances that mean you are an eligible donor. The anxiety PPs have about mass harvesting would probably evaporate if people were better informed. The law does not render your body the property of the state, it remains the property of ypur NOK. I seriously doubt there is a medical team in the country that would harvest without explicit consent of NOK, so if they aren't around or people don't have any, no one is taking your organ

Once you see your loved one slowly dying in front of you everyday sat on machines to keep them alive, only then may you understand formerbabe

Don't talk nonsense. I can see beyond my own raw emotions. I've lost many close relatives in all sorts of situations. That doesn't mean all principles and common sense have to fly out of the window.

I’m astounded by some of the things posted on this topic.
For those of you who are struggling (former babe and op) let me explain it to you in as simple terms as possible.

Firstly, this has been discussed, publicised, in the news for well over a year now. The NHS website has the correct information - the law will not change until April 2020. Every household in England will receive written or verbal information informing you exactly what the change is and if and how it will affect you.

If you’re going to put statements on here at least get it right ...
There will be exclusions to those being opted in:
Anyone under the age of 18
Anyone who lacks capacity
Anyone who is not normally a resident in a England - and has to be living here in a registered English household for a minimum of 12 months.

IF you do not want to be an organ donor, it’s easy to opt yourself out. Either online or by post.

The evidence clearly shows that over 80% of the population agree with organ donation but only 30% have signed up .... the reason for this? People forget to do it, too busy, will do it another time and don’t.
Therefore, this is a way of a) Increasing potential donors and b) getting people talking about it.

YOU still own your own body - this change does not mean the government do. YOU can take yourself off the register. YOU can tell your family/friends you do not want to be an organ donor.

On top of all that, you have to be in a very unique position to be a donor - on ICU. On a ventilator and previously quite fit and well. The percentage of the population this covers is around 3% so actually there is only a very small chance of being an organ donor in the first place.

So all the posters informing everyone that hospitals won’t treat you as well if you’re a donor or if you die in the street or at home you will be a donor are so wrong it’s embarrasing.

Also, Cabinetoffthewall - i hope you’re not actually working in healthcare?? You’re knowledge and information is so wrong!

3 people die every single day waiting for a transplant - it can and does happen to anyone. You are not invincible.
That being said, this is still a choice - no one is forcing you to be an organ donor. Just read the facts and make an informed decision. Don’t get your information from the Sun newspaper or an episode of Holby City.

Well said @rubystiles

Opt in hasn't worked. Too many people die because of the lack of organs. Those who object to 'opt out' really do need to come up with alternatives.
Campaigns etc don't impact the 'not something I care about/want to think about' masses.
Those who do care have an opt-out - would you prefer a child matching your tissues dies because you hadn't bothered to 'opt-in'?

(obviously once you are legally dead you own nothing anyway.)

Either online or by post

Let's say you do it by post and you are knocked down by a bus on the way back from posting it. They check the register and no opt out found so they whip out your organs and three days later the opt out form arrives .

Bit screwed

Oh for goodness sake. If you don't want to donate the absolute easiest, simplest thing in the world is to let your family and loved ones know. They will still be able to override an assumed donation so if you want to take your bits into the grounds or the flames with you then you absolutely can still do that. Equally if you wish to donate to science, have a conversation about that with your relatives so that they know your wishes. And if you want to donate then guess what? Still have a conversation so when they're asked they absolutely know what you want doing with you when your time comes. Have we really got to a stage where we're more interested in whether something offends rather than just actually speaking to the people we love about our wishes?!!

It's not the government taking your organs willy nilly, its a person who might get to live a bit longer or with a better quality of life. Someone needs it, you don't when you're dead.

And yes, I believe that if you opt out, then you should not be allowed to receive. That might be unpopular, but I think that you should do as much as you can to help our fellow humans

I’m interested in how people think that lives are going to be saved by this.

Because the reality is that if people think that there is a lack of donors now because of the lack of people on the register they are wrong. The reason there is a lack of donors is because the family often refuse permission regardless of the patient’s register status. Opt out isn’t suddenly going to change this. Currently around 50% of people on the donor register do not donate because the next of kin do not give their consent. This isn’t going to change. In fact it is likely to lead to a reduction in donations because those who feel strongly enough about it will opt out given the kind of fear being spread about how many lives will be saved now that everyone is opted in, and this is misinformation.

As for the talk of how the next of kin shouldn’t be able to live with themselves knowing that they’ve buried a body which could have been used for donation and saved lives, well, what about the recipients? Essentially everyone on the donor list is hoping for someone to die in order that they can live. In fact it’s something I struggled with immensely when the potential need for me to have a heart transplant came up.

Nobody owes anyone the chance to live, but equally nobody deserves the chance of someone else’s death.

Always a lot of thick comments on these threads...it's all about saving lives huns.

It's bullshit. It's a scary erosion of rights. It's having to reclaim our bodies back from the state. Terrifying.

I agree.

I've been a registered organ donor since I was 12. I'm a regular blood donor and have been for 20 years. I'm on the list for bone marrow donation. I've even been an egg donor.

But I will opt out if they make it an opt out system. A system where the state has a default right to your body parts is too far.

This rubbish about bodily autonomy - you're dead, really dead! Without intervention you begin to rot soon after death. You don't know what happens!

In reality, family, if they can be found, are always involved. Doctors would find it hard to override the wishes of family.

maggie222

So, let's just not debate medical ethics then? There's lots of sad situations that occur that potentially others could assist in. I haven't experienced infertility, doesn't mean anyone is entitled to my eggs despite me no longer needing them.

No, I'm not a troll.

I already carry a donor card.
I thnk the change needs a lot kmore publicity as I ddn't knowabout it until I read this thread howver. I see it will apply after ou haev beeno rdinarily resident in the UK for 12 months which seems sensible rather than applying it to someone on a visit.

Some people may have religious reasons so communities like that will need to make sure they tell members so they can opt out.

I certainly want to be buried in a grave wth a full upright headstone but I assume there will be enough of me left and put back together after that people can view my body before burial if they want and that I can be buried in the usual way. Eg if they take the real eyes I woud like a glass eye put in in place etc etc.

@Ylvamoon
The other issue I have with "organ donation" is, that it does not state who will receive your organs. Is it someone who is genuinely ill, no fault of their own? Or is it someone who through life choice is in need replacement parts?

Well in that logic anyone who gets injured skiing shouldn't get helped, it's their own fault, or swimming, no, you went into the water...

We all make stupid and questionable decisions, but we shouldn't punish people for them

Please also think of the wider picture. Ever noticed that the state only ever takes our rights... little by little. They never grant us more. So, ok, this should be fine but the next thing they do might not be.

Formerbabe, in the posting the letter situation, you wouldn't be a donor as ypur NOK would be asked and I assume that you have been as vociferous with them as you have here.

If there were no NOK around to give consent, I don't think you could be harvested because no one wants to risk a mistake in this.

flirtygirl
Sorry... that update on telling your daughters not to expect an organ should they need one... I’m actually speechless.

Would you not give an organ to one of your daughters If they needed one????

I'm opted out. I am not prepared to allow the state the right to decide what happens to my organs after my death, That is for me and me alone to decide.

Little by little are our rights eroded.

I haven't experienced infertility, doesn't mean anyone is entitled to my eggs despite me no longer needing them.

No one is entitled, but if you can make a life changing gift to someone, why not.
I can understand not wanting to donate your eggs as they are you and could effect your family/children in the future- but the rest of it, selfish

@flirtygirl, again, there is no inconsistency in the date. I don’t think laws work how you think they work. The law was passed this week., which says that law will come into effect next year. Maybe you need to read more about it.

I knew nothing about the change in law. There have been discussions in the news about changing opt in to opt out for the last 40 years. So yes I have heard some of the discussions over the last 2 years, but had no idea the law had actually changed. And I regularly watch the news. I doubt most people know about this.

Can you opt out of donating certain organs? I'm happy to donate some things but not others but if it's all or nothing I will opt out.

Just asked my youngest who is the forces and my husband about this and we are all in same page and would all
Like organs used if possible.
Just have the conversation 😊