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

[Nameitychangity]

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

I reckon most of my organs will be pretty knackered by the time I go, but if someone can benefit from them they are welcome to them.
Actually I'm planning of donating my whole body (human tissue authority - hta.gov.uk) to science. Just hope the medical students don't play football with my head!

@PPNC

I think it’s great and actually had an argument with ex SIL years ago when it came in in Wales as she took it on herself to opt out DH and I! (Against their religion).

Only thing is I have asked that some organs not be taken, womb and face really. I don’t want to be an experiment to make a baby for a man.

Not sure I saw the option for 'donating face' 😂😂😂😂 Corneas maybe but I'm pretty sure it's not like face/off

I don't think the family should have the right to override a person's wishes at all. That is hugely disrespectful.

I'm in Wales, always on the organ donation list and happy to be so. Nobody would override that in my family, it would be nothing but an arrogant and misplaced view of 'ownership'.

It is, as PP says, barbaric to allow the living to die when organs no longer needed could save them.

I don't think the family should have the right to override a person's wishes at all. That is hugely disrespectful. I don’t disagree, but then the focus needs to be on changing the law on that rather than talking about an opt-out system which is essentially meaningless while the family still have the overriding say.

People who believe that family would override their wishes could set up an advanced directive to prevent that from happening if they felt strongly enough about it.

My family know my wishes although I can’t imagine anything of mine will be worth having.

I actually joked recently about if I’d died of something before I got sick and they’d taken one look at my heart and said “oh dear God, we can’t possibly give that to someone else.”

@Cherrysoup I have no words for what you have stated but @AlternativePerspective sums it up much more better than I could.

How on earth could you actually think that any parent should be forced to go through that with their child? A child of any age? That has shocked me and hardly anything actually does nowadays.

@AlternativePerspective @DinosaurDigestive

Omg, I have totally been misunderstood or more likely, knowing me, I have expressed myself really poorly! What I ,want was that it must be awful being asked for organs if your child/loved one is dying, not that the organs should obligatory be taken! I should have put in an extra phrase to say I don’t think that’s the way forward, although I understand why someone would be asked. I did NOT say that it is obligatory that a parent should be forced to hand over their child’s organs.

I'm an organ donor but quite frankly I'm increasingly disgusted with the level of control and nannying of adults going on in Scotland.

I certainly didn’t mean it, is what I meant to say. Bloody hell, I’ll shut up now, I can’t seem to make myself understood.

I think it's a good thing.
If someone feels strongly about it then they actually do something.
If it's not important enough to them to spend a few minutes opting out then 🤷‍♀️

@AlternativePerspective

I don't think the family should have the right to override a person's wishes at all. That is hugely disrespectful. I don’t disagree, but then the focus needs to be on changing the law on that rather than talking about an opt-out system which is essentially meaningless while the family still have the overriding say.

People who believe that family would override their wishes could set up an advanced directive to prevent that from happening if they felt strongly enough about it.

My family know my wishes although I can’t imagine anything of mine will be worth having.

I actually joked recently about if I’d died of something before I got sick and they’d taken one look at my heart and said “oh dear God, we can’t possibly give that to someone else.”

I also think it's wrong that families can override the individual's decision and would be very happy to pay for an advance directive if it would ensure that didn't happen (but I don't think the general population should have to).

I am totally in favour of organ donation, my parents always have been, and yes that includes the corneas, if I could give someone the gift of sight why not?

If people feel that strongly they can opt out, personally if they do so for religious reasons I'd have even less respect for a religion that dictates that.

@PurpleDaisies no, I absolutely don’t. It’s not even vaguely what I meant. I think opt out is great, but no, you shouldn’t stand over someone’s dying child making them feel guilty about not wanting to donate organs, they can’t be in the right frame of mind by a horribly long way. Bugger, I’ve just written very poorly what I did mean ie that it should be opt out. Shutting up now.

Omg, maybe I should report my own post? I absolutely did not mean that a parent should be forced into this, no.

Those who don’t wish to donate, how would you feel of your child needed a donor? Would you just accept it or decline?

100% for it, so many people die waiting for organs because people can't be arsed to register/talk to their family about it. I think families still get the final say though.

I think people should always discuss their wishes their families. When i met my now husband i made it very clear. i always felt that way, he wasn't sure but then one of my friends got a kidney and pancreas and he is massively for it now having seen the impact on her life.

My children are adults, so it is their own choice whether or not to accept a donation.

I am assuming when they were children, if they were going to donate or receive a donation, a discussion would be had with me with a lot of in-depth information given from which to make the decision.

Which is very different to the government telling me I am opting in with no discussion with me.

@GarlicMonkey

I've opted out. It's entirely up to my son's & partner what happens to me when I'm dead. Whatever makes grieving easiest for them (be that donation or burying me intact) is fine by me. I couldn't have coped with my mum being harvested when she died, hence I'm conscious not to make decisions from beyond the grave that will make life harder for those I love.

Surely by opting out you've made your wish not to donate clear? You've actively made a choice.

If I didn't know my parents wishes and was told they'd opted out then I'd assume that was what they wanted. I've had the conversation with both my parents and know their wishes which will make it easier if I have to make the decision.

@TheLaughingGenome

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.

I am assuming when they were children, if they were going to donate or receive a donation, a discussion would be had with me with a lot of in-depth information given from which to make the decision.

Which is very different to the government telling me I am opting in with no discussion with me.

There will still be discussions and information though. They're not going to say "they've not opted out so we're taking everything" in the same way at the moment there's no "they've opted in so you have no say."

It should definitely be opt out. Family wishes are still respected but honestly if someone would be happy for them or someone they love to receive and organ they should bloody well say yes to organ donation.

I don’t like it. I think it’s wrong to move to an opt out system without a massive public information campaign to explain the reality of organ donation.

It can be a very traumatic experience for relatives, and while it can be wonderful and a comfort to some families, it isn’t always. It’s worth thinking about very very carefully, and people need to take the wishes of their loved ones into account. It will be them waiting around for your body to be switched off while the hospital and donor gets ready.

@Cherrysoup apologies from me! I sometimes don't come across the way that I mean to and it can cause all kinds of issues! I think this is one of those subjects were lots can get emotional about it and very conflicting views etc on top. Apologies again

I don't agree with signing everyone up to be organ doners.

Yes, slash, I know there would be still be discussions regarding a family member.

There will not however, be a discussion with me about my reproductive material because I will be dead. In the absence of such a discussion happening while I can consent, I am opting out.

I think it's a good thing. I'm on the organ register anyway. You are dead and could save someone else. Why would you not.

Surely by opting out you've made your wish not to donate clear? You've actively made a choice. not if you’ve had a conversation with your family. Opting out then is just a case of saying that the decision needs to be made by your family and not assumed by the state.

Which is why I keep saying have the conversations with your family.

@DinosaurDigestive honestly, I think it’s me multitasking! Me, not you!