I think it's amazing how many people are willing to take a donated organ but aren't prepared to be a donor themselves.
People saying that they are opposed to the opt out system are not necessarily saying they are opposed to organ donation and that they wouldn't donate.
THIS IS NOT TRUE
Its not that simple yet many people are reducing it to that. Mainly because they've made up their own mind and are close minded to a wider debate about the issue because they think its a black and white subject.
I also despise the emotional blackmail that is being expressed here. This is another reason I don't like the opt out system. It does turn it into a situation where other people seem to think they they are entitled to someone's organs and they are 'selfish' if they don't. This also puts greater pressure on families in an opt out system in a way that the opt in system doesn't.
It changes the dynamics of who holds power and who doesn't hold power in the system and it changes the dynamics of how easy family find it to say no if that's how they feel.
It should always be about putting the wishes of the person who has died and their family first and wholly separate from someone who is waiting for a donation. Somehow its stressed that the emotional needs (and mental health) of the family of someone who has died are irrelevant or not valid or important instead. That should absoluetely not be the case. They should not be belittled or condemmed as 'lesser than the need' of someone wanting for a donation. That is ethically immoral.
The family of those who have died need to be treated completely separately in terms of their decision making and not be manipulated by others not matter now much demand and need for organs there is.
Donation has to be seen as a gift which isn't due under undue pressure (again something that is necessary to count as valid consent).
Someone may not be mentally able to cope with donating a loved ones organs but later may need an organ. The fact that they have greater mental health considerations or issues should not be a barrier to them recieving - and this is something that some people are suggesting should happen because they do not recognise the emotional toll of losing someone on mental health.
As I said upthread, I do think that changing the system of opt in to opt out has a massive impact on power dynamics and disproportionately affects vulnerable individuals far more than those people who are happy and willing to donate anyway. I think this is something that isn't well appreciated and understood because those informed about this and actively making decisions about this are those people who are the least vulnerable and least likely to understand how it affects more vulnerable people.
Not enough people understand how medical consent and medical ethics are finely balanced and what their purpose is. When you understand why they are important, it does make you view changes like this, which may seem on the face of it, minor have much larger ramifications. In this case it takes away the power of families and places it with the state even if the family still have the opportunity to veto. Not everyone finds it easy to say no to people in authority such as doctors for a variety of reasons and we should understand this.