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

Also for those who think they should be able to decide who to donate to, would you have similar reservations about whose organs you received? I.e. how about if your donor was a murderer? A pedophile?

Would you want the heart of a murderer?

One to think about....

So you think it’s ok to receive but not give?

Yes. First of all, well, let's just use the one everyone does, you will be dead so you won't know or care. Secondly, it's a gift, not a contract of morality. Thirdly, the point is moot because people who are sick enough to need a transplant are most likely not going to be able to donate themselves.

I don't give gifts with strings attached. They can have it all (I'm a smoker, though, so chances are not much will be good even in the best of settings). So my being on the registry is probably moot. Nevertheless, if there's something that can be used then I give it, freely. I'm not here to make moral judgements on the recipient or their family.

Just had this conversation with my dh and dd. We all agree they can take what they need to save/enhance the lives of others. We are being cremated anyway so what's the point in burning potential life saving organs. My brothers organs were not any use to anyone when he passed away but my lovely amazing friend donated the organs from her 18 year old son. We know his heart went to save the life of a young mum waiting desperately for a chance of life. His other organs helped others. He was cremated too and weirdly he and my brother are just a few feet away from each other. Anyway such an awful thing for parents to think about but an amazing gift when they do xx

So you think it’s ok to receive but not give?
Yes, because otherwise you are on a slippery slope of who is deserving to be on the list and who isn't. Why just stop at that? Alcohol induced liver disease? Off the list.
Smoker? Off the list etc

Not in England but always been on register and the way I see it is that if you don’t take the time to opt out it’s because you want to donate and when it comes to the conversation with family (if you’ve not discussed it previously) your opt in might help them decide.

Also this will help open up conversations in families about organ donation if it’s something they haven’t talked about for a while or ever. I don’t know who would make that decision for me tbh divorced and my mother lives 500 miles away. I’m also a nurse who works with children with cf and I’d happily give my heart/liver/lungs or whatever to let someone live. I’ve seen what some of these kids go through.

If you're willing to accept an organ or blood donation then you should be willing to donate yourself.

Bansku19 That’s really hypocritical and makes me feel uneasy. You’re happy to use someone’s organs to benefit yourself but once you’re dead and don’t need them, you want to keep them with you for no real reason it seems. Gross.

If you're willing to accept an organ or blood donation then you should be willing to donate yourself. except many people aren’t eligible to give blood, and at the time a donation is needed there isn’t time to see whether someone wouldn’t be prepared or if they simply can’t donate.

I can’t donate blood due to a serious heart condition for which I am, amongst other things, on blood thinners. But even prior to that donating blood would make me pass out. I still could but I wasn’t prepared to given the consequences. Should I therefore not be prepared to have a donation?

I would also be unlikely to be able to donate my organs due to erm, needing a transplant because of afore-mentioned heart condition. I would be prepared to donate my organs though but would want my next of kin to have the overriding say.

If you were in need take it you would gladly accept a donor organ to save you your family or your child's life?

AlternativePerspective The word used was willing not meaning you have to be able to give but rather you would if you could.

If you have to have a blood transfusion you can be as willing to donate as you want but you will not be able to donate, so that entire argument is pointless. If you an accept an organ you will probably not be able to donate, either. So again, a total strawman.

@eminencegrise

It’s with reference that someone would be happy to receive the donation but they wouldn’t actively be willing to donate themselves.

@CactusAndCacti

It must be a horrific experience to be in, but surely that should be the motivator to want to help people if it came to it.,

It doesn't even need to be either you agree to donate or you dont receive. Just give those willing to donate organs a priority over those who aren't. The same should be done with smokers and drinkers.

It’s not about not wanting to help those that have different opinion, what a ridiculous statement.

The issue is there are thousands of people waiting for a transplant. So for the person who revives the donated organ there will be several that will probs die.

The point is, those willing to donate should be priority over those that wouldn’t donate.

The point is, those willing to donate should be priority over those that wouldn’t donate.

This is a ridiculous statement.

The point is, those willing to donate should be priority over those that wouldn’t donate.

Absolutely not. Plus, what’s to stop someone just lying and saying they’d be willing to be a donor and briefing their family to refuse?

what’s to stop someone just lying and saying they’d be willing to be a donor and briefing their family to refuse?
Simple, stop giving 'family' rights to override your decision to donate your organs after your death. We dont give family a right to override your will, donation should be no different.

@ChangeInTime

It’s ridiculous to suggest otherwise and hypocritical beyond belief!

@PurpleDaisies

Absolutely so!

@Walkingdeadfangirl

Well said!!

What other criteria would you like to choose to decide who's worthy? Should we take their job into account if they're an adult because some could be seen as contributing more to society than others? How much tax they paid? If they have a criminal record? Do they volunteer and donate to charity? Should that bump them up the list? It's insane and barbaric to determine how deserving someone is of future healthcare based on their response to a hypothetical question about a situation they are unlikely to find themselves in. Again healthcare should not be a meritocracy.

Binting

I am a doctor. I work in a transplant centre and meet transplant patients regularly.
I see the impact on them & their families.

I am the daughter of someone who donated their body to the local medical school.

In addition I am a body donor - The paperwork for my own body is in my filing cabinet beside my will.
My NOK know what they have to do when I die and as we've done it before know the urgency.

It is with al of this in mind that I hold the view that so few people are suitable for organ donation that this should be the first choice if someone is willing to be either an organ donor or body donor.

The plastic cadavers etc are getting better for medical students and researchers can often get donated tissue through other routes (all with consent I hasten to add).

Until we can "grow" organs the people on the transplant list are much more restricted.

I talk about body donation a lot as I know there aren't that many people willing to do it and after my Mum's death quite a few of my friends also signed up.

Although I have to say I think the medical schools could do a bit more to help themselves. I've found dealing with the London anatomy office really difficult and it is only through great persistence I actually completed the process of registering.

It’s a matter of life or death for goodness sake! To all those that are being pedantic and asking ridiculous question like ‘Well where does it stop, what if they were a smoker, didn’t pay enough tax...” Give over and stop trying to make it in to something it’s not.

For those on their high horse, the simple fact is it’s ludicrous to chose to have your organs rot in the ground or burn to nothing when they could be used to help someone else and give that person a second chance of life.

It’s beyond belief how anyone can sit there any say someone who would not actively donate their organs just because they don’t want to (even though they’re dead and don’t need them) should be top of the list to receive them!!!

Absolutely mind blowing.

No, I wouldn't accept an organ donation

I've been a doctor for more than 20 years. I have never known anyone refuse an organ donation. Blood transfusions yes, organs no.

Easy to say that you won't accept a donation when you're not staring down death or the horrible symptoms of organ failure. Not so easy in practice.

I don't know how anyone can be selfish enough to let their organs be burnt or rot, when they could help someone else. Squeamishness is no excuse to let someone die unnecessarily.