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

I think if people opt out, then they shouldn't be able to receive an organ, If they ever needed one...
Changed your mind at all?

Yep. Gave it a quick scan before you posted.

Religion.

Well I've just wasted a lot of minutes reading through this thread. What utter rubbish some people write, mind boggling really. If you want to know how strange some people are just read a thread on MN!!!

If you really don't want to donate your organs to save someone else, then simply opt out - but keep your ignorant comments to yourself in the meantime.

If you decide to donate your body and organs to a hospital, what is the following procedure thereafter. I Suppose it it clear cut then, as pre arranged. by family etc, But could you be denied of wanting your body parts to be used for others benefit,if you suddenly had a death,and wanted this to happen, without any previous discussions with anyone medical.

The answer is probably not, as it has to be assertained, that a body would have to be deemed all ok to use for others.

I will opt out because I object to that decision being made for me by the state. I fully expect my next of kin to give permission for my organs to be donated and that's fine by me.

I am left now with the most horrid thoughts of what he may have heard as they were prepping him for the organ removal operation.

This must be dreadfully upsetting for you - but please be assured that if brain death had occurred, even in the highly unlikely situation that he may have been able to "hear", (ie there may have been an autonomic response to sound, in the same way a window being tapped would be able to "feel") he wouldn't have been able to comprehend what was being said to, or about him.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

A quote from notagain's second study link

"“This is not a living brain. But it is a cellularly active brain,”

I think it's important to keep these things in perspective - under laboratory conditions, scientists can keep lots of our bits and pieces "alive". However they are neither functioning nor even sensory. they are just , frankly, lumps of undecayed meat.

For the second time, I didn’t say it was originally your point. I asked whether you think it matters.

Strange to ask me that rather than the person who made the point.

On a personal level I hope my mothers donated organs went to decent people as I think most people would so from that POV yes. But obviously we consented as a family and they were donated regardless so from a practical POV no because you have no idea who they are going to and that's part of it.

The point is that organ donation is no fairytale, as the people who have actually been through it on this thread contest. The idea that they are keeping your loved one alive potentially for the benefit of a convicted murderer, rapist etc doesn't help your peace of mind at the time.

elle7ose don't worry about that, in fact it's the opposite. If someone is on life support with 'brain stem death'; it takes so long to get the family to accept that, then discuss organ donation, get the right blood tests etc and teams in place that actually that person's body remains on ventilation and cardiac support longer than if their family had declined the option of organ donation.

I would be trying to solve the problem from a house point of view tbh. You shouldn't be able to smell smoke from next door if the windows aren't open.

Wrong thread 🙄

Wind your neck in Retroflex. I have already bequeathed my body to my University after attending a medical school meeting that discussed the very real problem of the lack of cadavers available for medical students to study. My body will serve a better purpose in educating future doctors and researchers who will hopefully go on to save many lives.

I would like to be able to specify to the NHS that I have bequeathed my body and they need to get me to the medical school ASAP. If, for any reason, my body ends up being unsuitable for study purposes then my family know that my organs can be used elsewhere.

Elphane, you have opted out and that is, quite rightly, your decision to make. I wonder would you accept an organ if you needed one?

To be very honest, hearing about the actual experience of organ donation from those who have done it, has made me have second thoughts.

In that horrible scenario I suppose my preference would be for my last moments to be surrounded by family who love me rather than by anonymous doctors. And I'm sorry to say that God forbid this was ever the case with my children I'd want to hold them whilst they slipped away.

I suppose I had a look ways thought about this being OK as I was already dead but actually it sounds like it's more of a case of being on life support with no hope of waking up.

I'm interested in the philosophical debate around this, but what strikes me most about this thread is the level of visciousness and emotional blackmail directed at anyone who isn't jumping up and down shouting "Take all my organs! I don't care I won't need them anymore". I don't think you're going to change anyone's mind by hurling abuse at them just because they have a different philosophical standpoint to you.

and have made some excellent points about the wider ethical issues of presumed consent in medicine and in law, which other posters seems to angry or just incapable of engaging with. And seem to have missed the point that they have both said they are happy to donate.

I think people are within their rights to opt out, but then they should not be eligible to receive organs.

I will opt out because I object to that decision being made for me by the state. I fully expect my next of kin to give permission for my organs to be donated and that's fine by me.

I find this curious. You can give your consent (or not) for it now, why leave it to your relatives when you can make an informed decision about it now?

Not RTFT but I think it's fine to opt out as long as you would die yourself, and let your kids die rather than take someone else's organs.

*Assumed consent is NEVER OK in any circumstance. don’t be ridiculous! We assume consent all the time. You choke in a restaurant, fellow dinner presumes you want to live and helps you. You are drowning and lifeguards pull you out and give you mouth to mouth. You are suicidal and committed to save your life. Assuming you would want to help someone else live is NOT a whacky and out there assumption to make. Most human beings want to help each other.

My sibling is here because someone helped us. We will always be forever grateful and better for that gift.*

I agree with most of this though if someone is suicidal and 'committed' that is done in their best interests and not with any assumed consent.

I think the argument about consent is interesting anyway as consent is something only living people can ever give. Once dead, or brain dead, there is no such thing as the person consenting (or not). They become matter, like carrot, which can't consent.

opinionatedfreak I have bequeathed my body first as there simply aren’t enough cadavers available for medical students to study. I know that it is a major problem for medical schools as I have sat in on a meeting with University and NHS heads who discussed the problem at length.

Students need to study the whole body, where the heart, lungs and kidneys are placed, how to remove organs, what healthy and unhealthy organs look like, etc.

The UK trains some of the best doctors, surgeons and researchers in the world. These people have the potential to save thousands of lives. Personally I have decided that my body, including my organs, will be better used in training and research.

I have already signed up and completed the forms to bequeath my body to my local University. It isn’t something that you can just ‘do’, there is a process to follow. Some medical schools won’t allow people under the age of 50 to sign up for instance (as in my case).

If anyone is interested there is more information on the Human Tissue Authority site www.hta.gov.uk/donating-your-body

If, for any reason, the medical school can’t accept my body then my family know that my organs can be used to hopefully save others in the present.

I know this might be a stupid question but is it just organs they can use? I’m ok with organs and eyes but as another PP said does that include uteruses that could be used to allow men to have babies at some point? Also could they harvest ovaries and potentially eggs for use by others? I don’t want to opt out but at the same time it concerns me that use of body parts may not always be for ‘emergency’ purposes.

I'm interested in the philosophical debate around this, but what strikes me most about this thread is the level of visciousness and emotional blackmail directed at anyone who isn't jumping up and down shouting "Take all my organs! I don't care I won't need them anymore". I don't think you're going to change anyone's mind by hurling abuse at them just because they have a different philosophical standpoint to you.

It's fascinating isn't it?

They are people who have already opted in, in most cases, so have strong views already.

The change to the law doesn't affect their position in anyway.

It's much more interesting to hear why people didn't opt in and the experiences from those who have been in the position where they've donated a family members organs.

It's your choice. I'd also hope you would opt out as well if offered an organ though from someone else. If you have a religious or personal objection, then obviously that is your right. The number of people who are actually suitable to donate is very small - circumstances of the death needs to be quite specific. Of course you can say no- but should really refuse an organ too if opting out IMO. Many families who refuse to donate, when asked a year later, regret that they didn't give permission- it's hard at the time to say yes. This system removes that stress. I don't like that currently you can say yes to donation n, but the family have the final right to say yes or no, regardless of your personal wishes. And an,opt out system, ensures more people as most people are just too lazy to opt in!

I have opted out and I have also said that I don't want to receive an organ or any other part from a donor. The idea of having a part of a dead person in me fills me with horror. I understand that this is irrational but it's how I feel. My DD is an organ donor and, although it makes me feel ill thinking about it, I respect and will adhere to her wishes as she will mine. I do give blood though (45 pints so far), but DD has a phobia for needles so doesn't. Everybody has their own reasons for opting in/out, just because you don't agree with those reasons it doesn't make them wrong, just as emotionally blackmailing/bullying them into changing their minds makes anyone right.

Did anyone else hear the radio 4 play “the boy who gave away his heart”? Interviews with 2 families one whose healthy teen had a massive brain haemorrhage in the night and another whose teen son caught an infection which damaged his heart beyond repair. Both sets of parents were amazing. The mother of the son with no brain function said “yes” before the organ donation person could even ask. God I was in bits.