Opting out of organ donation

[ringme]

So the law has changed and this spring the NHS will consider you to be an organ donor automatically if you don’t opt out. I haven’t had a chance to really consider this all yet, WIBU to opt out at this stage until I have time to think about it or is that a selfish move given that 408 people died last year waiting for a donor?

What will you be doing?

www.organdonation.nhs.uk/helping-you-to-decide/about-organ-donation/faq/what-is-the-opt-out-system

The opt out page requires you to say if your gender [sic] is male, female, other, prefer not to say or transgender - in that order. That makes no sense.

Thank you for this information and clarifying @viques

I believe that if you would accept a transplant for your child or yourself you shouldn't opt out.

My daughter attends outpatients at GOSH for her heart condition and the transplant clinic is held at same time, when we are sat there i am so grateful we are not one of the parents waiting that call.

Lives are saved though. we had an extra 20 years with my Nana because of organ donation. She got see her grandchildren get married. These are real peoples lives

That's great but can you not see that neither I or anyone else owes you or your family their body parts? Just as you don't owe me yours.

I will be really REALLY fucking cross if they don't use every possible bit of me when I'm dead.

What's to think about? You get the chance to save people's lives by giving away stuff you're never going to use again. It's a no-brainier for me.

Does anyone know for sure whether I'm allowed to donate if I've had no vaccinations?

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

I doubt things will change in the UK in terms of what organs etc can be donated but if it did it’s unlikely everyone would receive notification. Perhaps you could review/amend/renew yearly in much the same way you would other things. It’s easy to amend your wishes via the website.

@Pinkyyy yes!

@underneaththeash wow, that's really surprised me. I opted out as I thought mine couldn't be used!

@bananaskinsnomnom - they may still find organs useful for research. I was amazed when I had the conversation that the hospital said some of my Fathers organs could still be used, despite a host of health issues.
When it came to it, he died on boxing day, and they said that it was difficult because reduced capacity for theatre time.

On another tack, I think the opt in system would have worked a whole lot better if it hadn't been common practice to ignore donor cards and clearly stated wishes and asked for family consent, ignoring the wishes of the opted in deceased.

I would suggest that remedying that pretty quickly would be your first priority pinkyy. Is there a medical reason for the lack of vaccinations?

Honestly, I don't like the idea of organ donation, I expect nobody does!, and I hate the thought of either of my dc's in that situation, but on the other hand of course I would 1000% want a donor organ if any of us needed one, so I can't be a hypocrite.

Maybe it is for you chugmonkey but we're not all the same. I have no issue donating heart, kidneys, lungs etc but I wouldn't my hands for example. I read a while back about the possibility of uterus transplants and again it's not something I would be prepared to do.

@PurpleDaisies thank you but unfortunately I don't wish to, there's no medical reason

What exactly do you need your organs for when you are dead? I will be offering up all of my organs (I had signed up to be an organ donor anyway) if they can be used to help save someone else, why the hell wouldn’t you? I think I feel even more strongly about this since having children, we have also discussed if the worst happened to our children and if it was an option I think we would also donate their organs. If they needed an organ I would hope someone out there would be kind enough to donate, so it works both ways. That’s how I see it.

It’s hard talking about stuff like this but I think it’s important to talk about with your family.

@formerbabe - That's great but can you not see that neither I or anyone else owes you or your family their body parts? Just as you don't owe me yours.

No, you don't owe anybody your body parts. But denying someone them when they are of no use to you anymore is unbelievably selfish. Dog and manger spring to mind.

shinyme will you be really cross or MN fuming cross? I bet the thought of you haunting them will put the transplant co ordinators on high alert.

I do understand the squeamishness about the opt-out system, but I think, on balance, it's the right thing - that is, subject to the caveat that the awareness campaign is sufficient to give everybody the opportunity to opt out if they want to.

I've never felt particularly attached to my body (I know that sounds a bit mad, but I've always felt that 'me' and 'my body' are two distinct things - 'I' am in my consciousness, and 'my body' is just a weird fleshy vehicle) - so I'd be happy for it to be used for anything useful. As a being, I have taken resources from the earth and from society, and I feel a very strong obligation that they need to be given back when they aren't useful to me any more. Honestly, I'd be fine to be fertiliser if my organs aren't any use for transplant.

I'd feel much more protective over my husband's body, I think, but I know he feels similarly to me, so his decision is already made.

They can take what they like off me. It's no use to me when I'm dead is it.

I personally am against the change in the law. If someone and their family allow their organs to be used to help others that is wonderful, but it should not be compulsory!

It is not a case of my being against donation, I have been on the Organ Donor Register since I was 18, as have my children. Also, my husband had a Heart Transplant 16 years ago, without which he would have died within weeks!

I was immensely grateful to the person, and their family, who gifted their organ so my husband survived. It was a tremendous gift, the gift of life. However that is what it should be, a GIFT! Their body belongs to them and no-one has the right to take bits of it unless that is what they wanted!

I don't understand how this is a dilemma for some people. Potentially save a life (possibly multiple lives) or take your organs to the grave to let them rot. Why would you think twice?

My brother passed away in November - his organs saved 5 lives, it is the most admirable thing he did with his life of 36 years & is a source of comfort to my parents.

They can take whatever is useful to them when I die I certainly won't be using or needing it any longer.

For those who disagree with the opt-out system or do not wish to donate their organs it's simply a case of making your family/next of kin aware of your wishes pretty much like those of us who are happy to donate have had to while it was an opt-in system.

That's great but can you not see that neither I or anyone else owes you or your family their body parts? Just as you don't owe me yours.

And there's me thinking we lived in a society

The selfishness of some people never fails to surprise me.

No, you don't owe anybody your body parts. But denying someone them when they are of no use to you anymore is unbelievably selfish

Well that's fine. People are entitled to be selfish within the parameters of the law. Freedom is important even if you do find some parts of it unpalatable.

I would be interested to know how they are going to stop unscrupulous people abusing the system when they couldn't do this when it was opt in?

Has the system changed so that it can't be abused?