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

But the argument put out is about number of lives saved...if lives saved is the only important thing above ethics then surely you must be pro saving 6 lives at the cost of 1?

Because organ donation is about saving lives without harming the donor. They have died. Whether they donate their organs or not that won't change.

I think this is a positive step. Anyone who disagrees can opt out, no one is being forced to do it.

I'm interested to hear how you can argue that people who are unwilling to donate should be able to receive organs. How do you reconcile that?

@Cherrysoup I've opted out as I will be donating my body to medical research; I've already signed up to donate my brain to the Parkinson's brain bank.

My body and organs will go towards finding cures for diseases that kill millions of people every year and will hopefully in the long run save many more lives.

I don't think that's particularly selfish of me, but many on here would disagree...

The opt out system should be that if you opt out of donating you are also opting out of receiving a donated organ.

@Lockheart exceptions to this would be in a situation like yours.

Cherrysoup I haven’t seen anyone say they wouldn’t donate. I’m seeing lots of people express discomfort about a presumed consent system.

This subject seems to cause the red mist to descend in a lot of people, who are raging at people for saying things they didn’t actually say.

How dare you complain about this! You’re so evil! You’d better not accept an organ if you needed it! You’re so evil!

Maybe try reading what the concerns are?

For those opting out, whats the reason for your decision given that you dont need any of your body once you are dead? Is it religious reasons or something else?

I would like there to be an option to state that you are willing to donate but that you do not want your organs to be donated to anyone who is a convicted child abuser/ convicted of domestic violence or sexual crimes.

NOK will still have the final say so there won't be any real difference

Then what's the point? It's the NOK saying no who are stopping many organs being used.

I'm interested to hear how you can argue that people who are unwilling to donate should be able to receive organs. How do you reconcile that?

I don't try to reconcile that. Organs are given to those with the highest clinical need. Organs are donated by those who wish to do so. It's not some moral tit for tat situation.

However I agree it’s not been that well publicised.

There has been a lot of coverage of this for a while now across radio, newspaper and TV.

Also, it won't come into force until next year, so plenty of time for direct communication to be sent.

@LittleChristmasMouse because the NHS is not a subscription service! It's not pay-per-view.

The NHS treats people based on medical need and not moral stance.

Will we treat those who choose to volunteer at food banks over those who sit at home and watch Netflix all weekend? Will we treat the rich, who contribute more, over the poor? Will we fast track chemo for those who donate to hospices over those who donate to animal shelters? I bloody hope not.

The NHS treats everyone regardless based entirely on medical need. Whether or not you're an organ donor is irrelevant.

Because organ donation is about saving lives without harming the donor. They have died.

They die in theatre without their loved ones there. I think this is a major sticking point for a lot of families, understandably.

@DumpTrump no, because the NHS doesn't treat people based on their ethics. It treats people based purely on medical need. As it should.

ttps://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/opinion/2011-07-27/analysis-who-is-buying-our-donated-blood

We don't even know where the blood is being sold to. The NHS sold the blood collection to a US company in 2013. There's nothing they won't privatise and make a profit out of. Unfortunately, I think it is this which has motivated a change in the law. If I could be guaranteed my organs were not sold and used to make a profit or that they would be used on people who deserved them (there are moral issues here- how would you feel about your organs being used to save a rapist or a murderer) I would give my consent for them to be used.

But I do think it is quite scary that the state now owns our organs unless we opt out

I have always opted in but I think moving to opt out is wrong. It is treating people as as commodities. Anyone can have one of my organs to save their life but I do not want any part of me used in creating a new life, which I think is the slope we are hurtling towards.

It's the state having control that bothers me

I'm going to have to weigh this one up

I completely accept that I can't take an organ donation if I opt out, I have no problem with that at all. I have a close relative who has a life because of two organ transplants and I would definitely not want to go through all that. (no DC before anyone asks)

but I don't want to sanction this "opt out" scheme.

I wonder if a lot of people who would "opt in" will end up "opting out" because they are concerned about state control.

The opt out system should be that if you opt out of donating you are also opting out of receiving a donated organ

Should we also refuse blood transplants to people who don't donate blood? Because in the UK, only 4% of eligible donors give blood.

@Lockheart thanks for the idea- I'm going to look into alternatives

What @coffeeismyspinach says is correct. Most people don't understand that you can only donate organs in a very specific set of circumstances. You don't get to be with your loved one when they actually die, which many people can't cope with in an unbelievably heartbreaking situation.

ruby I had no idea about the donated blood being sold, very interesting.

Lockheart not selfish at all! I have a friend who is doing the same. She is a carrier for a genetic disease and wants her body to go towards research (even though technically she could donate her organs).

Lockhart I don't think you even remotely fall into the same category as those simply wanting to opt out. You're not really opting out, you're opting in but in an even bigger way.

I really am baffled by anyone that wants to be peevish about their organs when they're dead and won't know anything about it. I think it's wonderful progress that it's now opt out.

Should we also refuse blood transplants to people who don't donate blood? Because in the UK, only 4% of eligible donors give blood.

There aren’t usually shortages of most blood types.

formerbabe

But that decision is made by doctors. I'm talking about posters on here. If you say that you will opt out of donating that means that you don't want to help someone else (which is your choice) but then if at the same time you are happy to receive an organ then you are saying that you refuse to help someone but want someone else to do what you weren't willing to do. Do people taking this stance see it as 2 unrelated situations?

And the state isn't removing autonomy - anyone who doesn't want to do this can opt out. You do still have control.

I also worry about who my organs would end up being donated to for example it would sicken me to think that they were donated to a child abuser but I suppose there’s nothing you can do to prevent that from happening.

Do you feel like this when (if) you give blood @Chlo1674?