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

They can use whatever they want from my body, as I’ve had a hysterectomy, otherwise I would be opting out. I would definitely help my youngest to opt out, because the thought of my child with SN having her womb used as a spare part for a non essential operation just turns me.

My only fear with organ donation is whether they rush family members to turn off life support in order to provide organs to other people... is this a legitimate worry?

Not at all. There are procedures and guidelines that must be followed.

I read somewhere that they sometimes take your organs before you're actually dead. Is that true?

absolutely - but I feel very strongly that anyone that has opted out should be precluded from being offered an organ - for themselves or their families; it would be a shame to go against their principles.

Do you simply opt out of everything in life?

What a weird question.

Dh is of the opinion that if you are on the organ register and you are in an accident and you are a match for someone needing an organ, the hospital won't try as hard to save you! Mad I know!

I am delighted by these changes.
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?

yes i think you would be very selfish. I also don't know what there is to consider. Once you are dead you don't need your organs but someone else could use them and you could save their lives.

Actually Formerbabe, your questions are answered in the OP's link.

As a PP said, the family still have to give permission.

My only fear with organ donation is whether they rush family members to turn off life support in order to provide organs to other people... is this a legitimate worry?

It's the other way round, they leave it switched on while they find the recipients, prep them etc.

@ScarlettBlaize I will be removing myself from the register because I would rather my body is used to train the next generation of surgeons or used to find cures. This will save many more lives in the long run than if I just donated my organs. So I'm ensuring the exact opposite. I still think people have the right to do whatever they want with their body after death and I will never think it's selfish.

A patient who has no family, has language barriers or has some sort of learning difficulty ...

The new opt out system will not apply to those who lack the capacity to understand the system or to those who have been resident in England for less than 12 months.

Why not educate yourself about the new system before posting misinformation?

www.organdonation.nhs.uk/uk-laws/organ-donation-law-in-england/

I think those that opt out should do so in the knowledge that they are also forfeiting their right to receive an organ if needed in the future. If they don't feel okay with someone using their body parts they wouldn't feel right using someone else's obvs.

To all those who are opting out, are you considering how your decision effects your loved ones.

I, and the rest of my wife's family, found comfort in the fact that she helped people after she died.

I have literally zero respect for anyone that opts out. There are NO logical reasons to opt out. It’s quite possibly the most selfish action anyone can do.

All the major religions and belief systems in the UK support the principles of organ donation and transplantation so that’s not a reason.

It is grossly offensive to even suggest medical staff will “let you die” just so they can get their hands on your organs.

Wanting your body in one piece. Well that certainly won’t happen if you have a post mortem to determine your cause of death.

Don’t want organs going to druggies or alcoholics. Firstly, nobody chooses to become an addict. It could happen to you or someone you love this year. Secondly, there are very strict criteria for these groups of patients to get on, and stay on, a transplant list.

Petty reaction to “the state”. Quite simply, grow up. You could save multiple lives and vastly improve quality of life for multiple people, but you won’t because “it’s the principle of it”.

Absolutely...but everyone wails about lives that could be saved.

Nobody on this thread is "wailing". They are simply stating facts. It is a fact that hundreds die every year waiting for organs. So by opting out on "principle" you're making a deliberate choice to ignore that when you could not opt out and potentially save lives. You can tell yourself people are being "dramatic" if it salves your conscience but I don't see what's dramatic about stating a simple truth.

As a PP said, the family still have to give permission

What if a person has absolutely no family...it's not beyond the realms of possibility. What happens then and what happens now?

Yes, yabu

Teateaandmoretea just wanted to say sorry for your loss.

DH and I have both opted out. I don’t like the idea of my womb being transplanted into a transwoman. DH doesn’t like the idea of his penis being transplanted onto someone. If these types of surgery weren’t possible we probably wouldn’t have opted out. In fact previously we had both actively opted in to donate.

i read somewhere that they sometimes take your organs before you're actually dead. Is that true?

Technically yes, the organs can only be transplanted from a live patient. But the person would be effectively only being kept alive for that purpose. They keep the body and organs alive for the transplant, but the person would be unable to survive in any event.

I have already opted out.
I personally would not accept an organ transplant either.

I find it disgusting that even if you opt out, they will still try to persuade your family to override your personal wishes & chop lumps out of your not yet cooled corpse anyway.

The state does not own my body.

The accurate analogy here would be choosing to be buried with all of your money and belongings so that you can keep them and prevent anyone else benefiting from them even though you're... dead.

Not really, every time you choose to do something for yourself rather than someone in greater need, you're making someone else's life worse, which is totally selfish isnt it?

Or does it all come down to personal choice?

@MGC31 completely agree.

@ringme would you feel okay accepting someone else's organs if needed, even though you had opted out?

@ringme why don’t you spend the time researching and thinking about it that you are otherwise spending on Mumsnet?

What if a person has absolutely no family...it's not beyond the realms of possibility. What happens then and what happens now?

I'm not sure formerbabe. Have a look at the link, it's very informative.

Plus I'm sure the campaign will answer that question and more.