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

There are only a few things you can donate if you are dead ( no longer breathing no heart beat) organs have to be taken when you still have a heart beat - though in theory someone has diagnosed you as brain dead. I was traumatised as a student nurse listening to the painful wails of a mother whose teenage son was wheeled
Away to theatre on a ventilator to have his organs taken . I am not sure I could do it if it was my child opting out is not a crime and a personal decision. I would not want to receive a donated organ either

I’ll try to find the article, but the basic principle is that in Islam a person who still has an active circulation is presumed to be living. Even though in medicine this isn’t the case.

After 5 minutes of cardio respiratory arrest, the person is deemed to be dead and organs can be removed. In some that means the heart may potentially be able to be donated. This is from the 2019 fatwa Organ Donation and Transplantation in Islam. You can read it here

nhsbtdbe.blob.core.windows.net/umbraco-assets-corp/16300/organ-donation-fatwa.pdf

You will be dead? It's not going to affect you? Potentially yes your family might have feelings about it but in my opinion it could bring life to someone else's child and there is no better thing you could do with your life than this. I do understand of course some peoples views differ due to religious beliefs also of course.

Surely donating viable healthy organs is more useful in saving lives than donating to science? Donate yourself to science once you're old and your organs are fuck all use, or if you have some weird rare disease or something, sure.

@WaterOffADucksCrack

You can read about all the different faiths/beliefs and organ donation here

www.organdonation.nhs.uk/helping-you-to-decide/your-faith-and-beliefs/

@Binting just because you don't believe people forget to register doesn't mean it's not true. People may forget or just not bother.

Me and DH had a conversation with a group of 10 people and 3 of them said they would be happy to donate but had never got round to registering.

@ 73Sunglasslover while your child is not actually in the position of needing an organ you could consider it being prepared for them to die because of their beliefs. But if that child is told that their only chance of a future is an organ transplant then saying to that child “well, in the past you wouldn’t have been prepared to give an organ so now that your time has come of course you shouldn’t be allowed to have a transplant” is an entirely different kettle of fish.

This is why the “shouldn’t be allowed to receive if not prepared to donate” argument has no validity. Because that statement is made at a time when people are just thinking, not actually dealing with the consequences of what they’re saying.

Surely donating viable healthy organs is more useful in saving lives than donating to science?

How do you think doctors, paramedics, surgeons etc learn? They need bodies to work on as well as experience with living patients. Research and new techniques and procedures require the use of cadavers. Arguably donating your body to science could save far more people than organ donation, considering how many lives those paramedics and surgeons will save throughout their career.

You will be dead? It's not going to affect you? Potentially yes your family might have feelings about it but in my opinion it could bring life to someone else's child and there is no better thing you could do with your life than this

My family's feelings are one of the reasons I hesitate (among others). Yes I'll be dead but they are the ones who will have to deal with that and, if it makes them feel better that I haven't donated, then I'd rather not.

As I have received blood during the dodgy years, I doubt anyone wants anything of mine. If they do, they are welcome to it. It would be nice to think I am still helping someone after I die.

You will be dead? It's not going to affect you? Potentially yes your family might have feelings about it but in my opinion it could bring life to someone else's child and there is no better thing you could do with your life than this

My Friend has been left traumatised by the experience of donating her husband's organs. That a few people she'll never meet are likely still alive because of it gives her no comfort at all. Of course others will find it hugely comforting but she doesn't. His death was traumatic anyway, but the experience of donating his organs made things worse for her, and prolonged her pain.

I'm happy to donate but I don't think experiences like hers should be dismissed.

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

Have you talked to your family about it?

I’ve told all of my family what my wishes are and asked all of them what theirs are.

Thing is, there are people who do have an issue with the idea of organ donation. Some of those may be genuine beliefs or based on past experience of donating someone else’s organs, and some might purely be down to misinformation and belief in conspiracies such as the one which says that they would be less likely to save you if your organs could be donated.

Surely it’s better to engage with those people in order to understand their often (perfectly valid) reasons and wherever possible to reduce those potentially irrational fears than to resort to name-calling and personal insults? You’re not going to make a difference to someone’s beliefs if you just shut them down with no actual discussion.

I agree that family should respect your wishes and that the conversation should be had.

But I do wonder, for those who say that their family should respect their wishes to donate, would you respect the wishes of a family member not to donate and refuse consent on their behalf if the time came?

Respect is a two way street.

Good point @ChangeInTime. It’s the family who have to live with the consequences of the decision. I don’t think it’s fair to criticise someone going through the worst time of their life because they can’t or don’t want to donate a loved ones organs

MGC31 I've discussed with DH and he knows that I'm happy to donate heart, liver, lungs and kidneys only. However, if he would prefer to say no then I understand.

He is unsure about donating himself and I respect that and, to be honest, due to the experiences in previous posts, I would be very unlikely to agree to donation unless it was his express wish and even then it would be done reluctantly.

I would do what they had expressed because it’s their decision at the end of the day, but I wouldn’t respect it.

I have posted so many links to the facts and tried to engage those posting what is essentially nonsense (not valid), but people don’t appear to want to engage with the factual information. They’re happy to believe some crackpot with a tin foil hat on that once wrote something without any kind of evidence or factual basis whatsoever.

I have also said previously on this thread I’m not in the “if you wouldn’t, then you can’t” camp. Transplantation should always be based on medical need. That’s why there’s a list.

Sorry, that was in response to @AlternativePerspective

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

If he knows you’re happy to donate, why would he then go against that and say no?

MGC31 I'm not saying he would but, if he did refuse because he couldn't bear the thought because of his grief (I could be flattering myself here!) I understand as I really don't think I could say yes if I had to make the decision.

I know two people who are alive because of heart transplant. Both young, one just a little boy. I can't imagine not being on the register. However, the most difficult thing I had to do was register my own child. Nobody wants to think about losing a child but I wanted that decision to effectively be taken out of my hands. My friend's little boy wouldn't be alive now if another child hadn't died in a tragic accident. I can think of no greater gift to give if the worst happens. My view is if we are willing to receive a transplant, we should be willing to give.

lynsey it is okay for the 3 people who are more than happy to donate then, as their happiness to donate will be automatically assumed soon anyway. I'm sure their families also know their wishes and would consent on their behalf if it came to it. I don't know anyone who is a willing donor but has forgotten or not got round to registering but I accept that it could happen, the same as people could forget to register to vote maybe? The fact remains, assumed consent for anything is a very grey area.

The way I look at it if I or one of my kids needed an organ I would gratefully accept it. I’d rather my organs prolong someone’s life than burn with me.

@jaseyraex here's one m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=26728571815

AlternativePerspective Again you've waited for a reply to point out you had a different meaning. Many people when they say child may think of under 18.

You're putting worlds into my mouth which I personally find bizzare. If there's one organ but the choice of 2 receivers, one opted in and one out, I'd give the organ to the person who had opted in.

To a PP, I think a lot (not all) people who don't want to donate their organs are selfish. If it isn't or religious purposes, I bet many would accept an organ if they needed it. Why wouldn't you want to help someone else? I just dont get it

And everyone should talk to their families so the families know their wishes