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Original poster

What do you think about the new organ donation law? (Opt out)

328 replies

Nameitychangity · 15/02/2021 14:15

Not sure if this across the whole NHS but the leaflet received today is from NHS Scotland.
The organ donation law is changing on 26th March, we will now have an 'opt out' system which means that if you do not specifically register yourself as NOT wanting to donate your organs and tissue after death, then the law will allow your body to be used for organ and tissue transplantation.
What do you think? I'm already an organ donor so it doesn't change things for me personally but it does leave me slightly uncomfortable and gives me the feeling that you do not have control over your own body after death, in fact the state 'owns' it unless you specifically make an effort to declare otherwise. Is this right?
Leaflet also states "if you do nothing it will also mean you agree to certain medical tests and procedures that may be carried out before your death as part of the donation process".
What do you think of an 'opt out' system? Is it fair enough that if you don't register that your body can be used after death?
YABU - I'm dead, they can do whatever they want with my body and I'm happy for my organs and tissue to be used
YANBU - the system should remain opt in and 'opt out' systems are not right

OP posts:
LibrariesGiveUsPower45321 · 15/02/2021 14:16

If I’m dead I’ll not have any use for my organs. If they can save someone else happy days.

Marinaloves · 15/02/2021 14:17

Thing is, any family that objects will have their wishes upheld. So they’re not going to randomly start harvesting organs without consent from the family.
Anyway. I think it’s a good thing. People need to be less lazy if they’re that bothered

Moomoolandmoomooland · 15/02/2021 14:18

It has been law in England for about the last 12 months and even longer in Wales.

It is also not a given that your organs will be automatically taken. If you have certain health conditions, they will not take your organs for the obvious concern of passing the conditions on.

wizzywig · 15/02/2021 14:18

I think it's great. It fits in with my general way of life; to help others where I can

DifficultPifcultLemonDifficult · 15/02/2021 14:19

Opt out is awful.

Organ donation is a gift, not a right.

Having CHOSEN to donate my sons organs, the thought of a family going through that without having the choice is horrific.

The state doesn't control my body when I die, my family have the final say. I hope they choose to donate, if possible, if they can't face it, it shouldn't be forced on them they are the ones who have to live with it.

Sparklfairy · 15/02/2021 14:20

People who really feel strongly will opt out.

People who don't care rarely get around to opting in.

The only reason I 'got around' to opting in 10 years ago was because it was a simple tick box as part of the form registering for a new GP.

HeyDemonsItsYaGirl · 15/02/2021 14:21

If it was up to me you wouldn't be able to opt out at all. Bodily autonomy ends when you die, and preserving a corpse while actual living people die is barbaric.

mindutopia · 15/02/2021 14:21

I thought this started in England a few years ago (or maybe I'm imagining that?). I think it's great. As long as everyone is notified that they need to opt out, then they can if they wish. It makes the default option to be organ donation, which I think seems to be the right thing to do. If it matters enough to people, hopefully they will take steps to make their wishes known. More lives saved, the better, as far as I'm concerned. I'm being cremated. They can take whatever they want before I am though. I won't need it. That said, I already opted in for organ donation years ago.

Hannahusky · 15/02/2021 14:21

I signed up to be an organ donor at 17, as soon as I could badically. I always knew I wanted to do it and had told my family before, so same as you in that it didn't really change things for me personally. I find it a difficult one because if it was your loved one who needed a transplant and time was wasting waiting for a family to decide what they want to do, it would be a horrible situation altogether. I think it's easy enough to decide to opt out though-probably a similar set up to the opt in forms.

Wanderlust20 · 15/02/2021 14:21

Don't see the issue as it's not mandatory and people can opt out - I think it's brilliant!

AudacityOfHope · 15/02/2021 14:21

I think it's a good step to have taken. But then I also think burial should be banned as cemeteries take up so much space on our tiny island...

If the family don't agree to it, it won't happen, so there is an extra layer of consent required.

HoneysuckIejasmine · 15/02/2021 14:23

It's fine. Usually people say "oh yeah, I'd donate" but never get round to opting in. I think if you don't want to donate that tends to be the more strongly held belief, and so you are more motivated to make sure your wishes are respected.

I do think if you opt out for moral reasons, you shouldn't be able to receive transplants either.

Also I think the "tests" sounds a bit scaremongering, that's more things like tissue viability tests and making sure the organ is suitable. Not anything to be alarmed by.

PineappleTart · 15/02/2021 14:23

I think it's great. I've told all my family that under no circumstances should they prevent my organs being used if they can help anyone after my death. Rather like the idea of being used for spares

TheLaughingGenome · 15/02/2021 14:24

I'll fucking haunt my family if they ignore my wishes after I'm dead, and they know it.

My organ donation / "help yourself for research" wishes are clearly expressed through my inclusion in the organ donation register and in my will.

Yet apparently this can still be overridden by a relative blubbing in the hospital or ambulance.

I do wish organ & body part donation could be watertight. Most body parts are only useful at the time of death - they're useless once prolonged arguing starts. What a waste.

SheGonBringThatAttitudeHome2 · 15/02/2021 14:24

gives me the feeling that you do not have control over your own body after death..

This doesn't make any sense because, as you've just told us, when you are still alive you can decide whether or not to opt in or opt out.

That is control. Over your body. After death.

NerrSnerr · 15/02/2021 14:24

*People who really feel strongly will opt out.

People who don't care rarely get around to opting in.*

I agree with this. I can't get my head around why anyone wouldn't donate their organs. I can't imagine how it feels to be waiting for an organ or have a family member needing one knowing that people won't donate even though it could save someone else's life.

When my sister died I was gutted we couldn't donate her organs. If we could stop other people experiencing the heartbreak of losing a loved one we'd have done it in a second.

AndTheMillions · 15/02/2021 14:24

@Marinaloves

Thing is, any family that objects will have their wishes upheld. So they’re not going to randomly start harvesting organs without consent from the family. Anyway. I think it’s a good thing. People need to be less lazy if they’re that bothered
Yes this really as even if you want to be a donor your family can it seems override that ?
MephistophelesApprentice · 15/02/2021 14:24

All ownership rights end when you die, and your descendants gaining ownership over a corpse they are just going to dispose of is pointless.

It's a civilised step.

MyLittleOrangutan · 15/02/2021 14:25

Families can still object so it's not like your loved one gets harvested while you look on in horror. If you say no, they dont take your organs.

Personally, they can have anything off my body.

PurpleDaisies · 15/02/2021 14:25

It seems to be working well in wales and England. I have no issue with this at all.

SheGonBringThatAttitudeHome2 · 15/02/2021 14:26

It's a civilised step.

This.

PurpleDaisies · 15/02/2021 14:28

Yes this really as even if you want to be a donor your family can it seems override that?

That’s correct. I think that’s right too-it it’s really distressing for the family left behind, it’s kind to respect their wishes. It’s probably easier for them to consent knowing you had no objection to organ donation. Having a conversation before that awful time is important so they know your clear wishes in this area.

Gatehouse77 · 15/02/2021 14:28

I strongly disagree that next of kin can overrule an individual’s decision to donate their organs and would have much preferred they’d addressed that issue than going down the opt out route.

I also wish more had been done to educate people on what organ donation means.

I’m not fully on board with the opt out but see why they’ve done that - easier and cheaper. If next of kin still have a say then I do wonder what difference it makes.

rainbowunicorn · 15/02/2021 14:30

I think it is a very good idea. It has been well publicised, I have heard it on the radio, TV and seen it online and in newspapers in recent weeks. It is easy to opt out if anyone does not want to donate and it is not the case that families will not get a say. I would hope that any family would not go against teh wishes of the person though.

PurpleDaisies · 15/02/2021 14:31

I strongly disagree that next of kin can overrule an individual’s decision to donate their organs and would have much preferred they’d addressed that issue than going down the opt out route.

The nature of organ donation many donors will have undergone short, traumatic incidents that have led to them dying. That’s very, very hard for families. I wouldn’t judge anyone who was unable to come to terms with the organ donation procedure even though I plan to my own organs and those of dh if we were in that awful position.

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