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

@Puzzledandpissedoff

how does it fit with the insistence that the NOK's wishes will always be respected

Because consent from NOK will always be sought and the donation will not go ahead without it. The fact that the donor had given legal consent by signing themselves onto the register allows the conversation to be framed in a different way. It was thought that this would increase donation rates, which it did, but not enough. Hence this new change in the law to the opt-out system.

I’m not entirely convinced the opt out system is the way to go. Relatives have the final veto. Before if they were on the ODR it was very clear what the deceased WANTED, now a relative may be unsure that they didn’t just forget to opt out.

I am really pleased this has been brought in. Should have been done years ago.

What use are anyone's organs to them when they are dead. They may as well be used to save a life (or several). You are dead. You won't care.

Yougotdis It has not been advertised for years. It has been talked about for decades.

As an idea I mean.

Minimum I am not religious, But for those who believe in an afterlife, they do care very much.

OP, you obviously don't have to answer but I'm also stunned that you would not give your children an organ.
It is your choice obviously and you don't have to say, but I'm assuming it is because of religious beliefs?
If not, I just can't comprehend what you have said.

NopeNi - the person in the scenario you suggest should not in my view get an organ. There is never one unique recipient and so the donated organ should go to the person who is next best suited to receive but who has not oped out. You reap what you sow

I hear what you're saying reallybadidea, but have just found www.organdonation.nhs.uk/faq/consent/ which tells us:

"(NOK) will be encouraged to accept your decision and it will be made clear that they do not have the legal right to veto or overrule your decision. There may, nevertheless, be cases where it would be inappropriate for donation to go ahead if donation would cause distress to your family"

So while I appreciate that teams may respect NOK's wishes to avoid ugly scenes, the fact remains that they're not legally obliged to - something which I don't feel previous posts reflect

As a registered potential donor, I'm even less sure now that the new legislation will add anything positive to this, especially if grieving families were unaware of the deceased's wishes and come to feel that they're being steamrollered by yet more state intervention

Hah @Seniorcitizen1, I bet you'd switch your tone super-fast if it was your child or grandchild.

(Which is why that kind of law would hopefully never pass, no matter how many bitter people online wished it would.)

More than three families a week are saying no to organ donation because they didn’t know what their relative wanted

This means around 460 lifesaving organ transplants are being missed each year
This is from Sept 2017.
The whole opt in thing seems now like a huge sledgehammer to crack a nut.
A whole lot of people apparently dont die in the required manner. Take out all those who will opt out on whatever grounds and there could in fact be even fewer transplants.

And for those who keep stating that whoever opts out should opt out of receiving or somehow minds will be changed magically if they or there's suddenly require a transplant to live.
I wont be opting out but no I wont ever want a transplant, many reasons for that. Plenty of ppl out there would not accept transplants.
Hundreds of reasons why.

This law chnahe has been discussed several times in the press over the years. I find it astonishing that you didn't know about it.

It's a brilliant change. There are so many people who pass away with organs healthy enough and sutiabke for donation who haven't signed up and they essentially go to waste in a coffin.

Under the current system, NOK can override the donor's wishes because opting in legally before death isn't a prerequisite for donating. Under the proposed system, you will have explicitly and legally ruled yourself out of donating, which is not possible right now. You can currently only vaguely indicate preparedness to donate, but your family arent obliged ro follow your wushes. My Dad didn't have a donor card and it didn't matter.

Maybe the best way forward would be a legally binding opt in, that NOK couldn't override. However, how fucking headless would you have to be to with old a body from a grieving family? Especially when you take into an account that to be eligible to be a donor you more or less have to have died unexpectedly?

Also if citizens aren't keeping themselves super-healthy at all times, they should have all healthcare withdrawn. You reap what you sow.

So, ever smoked a cigarette or drank wine? Fuck your NHS entitlement.

Committed a minor felony? Stolen food to feed your family? The police won't help you anymore.

One questionable decision and you are OUT for all time.

See what a delicious slippery slope it is?

Relatives have the final veto

Not legally they don't (see the link in my PP)

Before if they were on the ODR it was very clear what the deceased WANTED, now a relative may be unsure that they didn’t just forget to opt out

Totally agree with this, though

I'm not sure if I'm on the register or not, it's a shame you can't check online. I need to check as there are only certain organs I would donate - they can have everything except skin and bones. I would also refuse to donate my limbs and uterus if it ever became an option in this country.

Even though I hate the idea, there might still be a distinction between "opt in" and "not opted out" on the records when they talk to people?

Trust me, unless you have some crazy extreme religious views, you’d take that organ on a heartbeat. Especially if it was your child.

Opt out then. But don't expect an organ if you ever need one.

Great post, Mariel.

I'm not sure if I'm on the register or not, it's a shame you can't check online. I need to check

You can do it in a quick phone call. You can, however, make amendments online so if you to only want to donate certain organs, do it that way If you're not on already they'll just add you instead of amending.

www.organdonation.nhs.uk/register-to-donate/amend-your-details-on-the-register/

So do all those objecting on religious grounds, object to cremation too?

So do all those objecting on religious grounds, object to cremation too?

Some do.

I am not in favour if this system at all. Even one situation of presumed consent meaning additional distress for a family who's loved one has just died will be one too many.

I also think the idea of not getting if your not willing to give us abhorrent. It's should always be the person in most medical need who gets regardless of former views.

When my son died I did donate his organs, that was my choice, it would have felt very different if it had been presumed. I felt like I had a small bit of control in a situation where there was barely anything I could control, I asked for various (Probably stupid) things to bring me some comfort and the staff were amazing at accommodating my requests. For it to have been assumed that I was donating his organs would have felt very different I think.

clairemcnam, I believe in an afterlife but I don't believe I will need any of my organs to go there!