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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:
MessagesKeepGettingClearer · 15/02/2021 19:01

I've known about this for ages. If someone is against it, they should opt out. Otherwise one can assume they're fine to give.

Imagine losing a family member due to organ failure, knowing how many people die who would otherwise have not minded donating.

I think it's a great thing and should have been done a long time ago.

toconclude · 15/02/2021 19:02

Good idea. When we're dead (or as good as) we won't need our bits.

/donating my entire body via Human Tissue Authority

Porcupineintherough · 15/02/2021 19:02

I think "about bloody time".

Hotzenplotz · 15/02/2021 19:06

IMO if a person isn't willing to donate their own organs they shouldn't be eligible for a transplant of anyone else's in an emergency.

Hotzenplotz · 15/02/2021 19:07

@Porcupineintherough

I think "about bloody time".
I was planning on typing exactly that.
summerinthelight · 15/02/2021 19:09

Opt-out is still a choice; it just means that those people who always say they want to donate but never get round to registering/don’t let loved ones know their wishes still help someone else Smile I definitely understand people not wanting to donate, but it’s obvious that people who don’t want to donate have a stronger motivation to get themselves OFF the register than someone who does want register but never gets round to it.

WhoStoleMyCheese · 15/02/2021 19:10

Is there a way to opt out and re-register with your specific wishes?
I’m fine with them taking everything except my eyes, reproductive organs and face...

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 15/02/2021 19:11

@BaggoMcoys

I had opted in before the change, but I don't like this presumed consent. I need to get round to doing this but I plan to make it clear that I'm happy to donate anything but my reproductive organs - though reading on this thread about face transplants I think I will remove consent for that too! I didn't realise that was a thing.
I don't remember being able to do that, hence opting out. I don't want to donate skin, hands or reproductive organs. I was told by the donor service that hand and reproductive organs aren't currently on the standard list but as they couldn't agree people would be notified if the list changes I decided to opt out.

I've told DH I will donate anything life saving or that will give someone sight but that's all.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 15/02/2021 19:14

@Hotzenplotz

IMO if a person isn't willing to donate their own organs they shouldn't be eligible for a transplant of anyone else's in an emergency.
But what if, like me, they are willing to donate life or sight saving organs but not reproductive organs, face or hands? Should I be denied a kidney transplant for example because I won't donate my womb?
NatashaAlianovaRomanova · 15/02/2021 19:14

My parents were made aware of my stance on organ donation from an early age & my children have been told in no uncertain terms that they are to agree to donate any part of me that is useful to someone else.

I'd be absolutely gutted if any of them were to go against my wishes & refuse to donate my organs upon my death because of their own grief knowing that they are causing someone else the same pain unnecessarily.

Elphame · 15/02/2021 19:16

I opted out at the first opportunity. Opt out is the start of a slippery slope. Organ donation should be a gift freely given; not one taken by default.

My family know my wishes and I know they will follow them.

Floralnomad · 15/02/2021 19:28

I’ve opted out although I actually doubt they would use my organs anyway due to my extensive health issues . I would have stayed in if I could be specific about what they could take , but you couldn’t as far as I could tell . I am happy for them to speak to my family when I die and they are aware of what they can donate . I would be quite happy if they made it the rule that people who opt out cannot have a transplant , it wouldn’t change my decision .

Lockheart · 15/02/2021 19:36

@Hotzenplotz

IMO if a person isn't willing to donate their own organs they shouldn't be eligible for a transplant of anyone else's in an emergency.
No.

The NHS treats people based on clinical need and not the morality of the patient.

Hotzenplotz · 15/02/2021 19:45

Fair point, @Lockheart.

It's just my own personal opinion.

Brefugee · 15/02/2021 19:48

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

you don't have that control now even as a donor: your family can override your wishes.

What is the problem with donating organs that are no good to you? Is it some religious thing? Frankly i think this should have been done long long ago.

Crackerofdoom · 15/02/2021 19:52

The issue for me is not opt in or opt out.

It is the fact that NOK can override your wishes.

I have opted in, carry a donor card and absolutely would want want everything used but my husband would be allowed to override this if he wanted.

Mind you, I don't like in the UK at the moment and nobody will take British blood or organs anyway Hmm

zzizzer · 15/02/2021 19:52

I also object to the fact that the government is relying on word of mouth, newspapers, social media etc.

It would have been easy to send a text message via the NHS about it, or for doctors to send out a message.

They're not doing all they can to publicise it, and it's creepy.

zzizzer · 15/02/2021 19:54

As one of the ones opting out who is actually happy not to be eligible, I can also see the idea of making that universal being a problem.

Is the state really going to refuse a life saving operation to a mum/carer of six because she signed a form in her teens? No of course they're not.

AlternativePerspective · 15/02/2021 20:56

My husband was an organ donor, l lreceived a letter from local hospital to say there were only 12 people that year that were organ donors, l thought it would be a lot higher. But how many people in your hospital were eligible to be organ donors but declined to be?

Only approximately 1 in 100 deaths are people who could be eligible to be an organ donor. Of those 1 in 100 many will never have spoken to their families about it and the family will have made the decision unilaterally.

Some will have spoken to their families about it and the family may still refuse.

Some may be ineligible because their organs simply aren’t healthy enough to be donated.

Looking at figures, in 2017 there were 595000 deaths in the UK. That of those only 5900 were potentially eligible donors. of those a number will have been unsuitable purely for health reasons. Remember that one donor can donate to 9 people, but very few do.

Then there are those whose families will disagree, and even those who personally wouldn’t want to donate whose families will respect their wishes.

That doesn’t leave a lot of donors spread across the UK, 12 donors is probably a fairly good estimate if it’s a smaller hospital for instance...

unmarkedbythat · 15/02/2021 20:59

I think it's great. Opt out if you don't like the idea. And make it clear you don't believe in organ donation and wouldn't accept one yourself!

Porcupineintherough · 15/02/2021 21:00

@zzizzer why not? Most people who need organs dont get them, so there wont be a shortage of worthy candidates.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 15/02/2021 21:01

@unmarkedbythat

I think it's great. Opt out if you don't like the idea. And make it clear you don't believe in organ donation and wouldn't accept one yourself!
As I've said in previous posts it's not always a straightforward choice.
FrickinA · 15/02/2021 21:02

I heard tons about this, it’s been mooted for years and they did public consultation didn’t they?? Well overdue. People can, and will opt out.

Porcupineintherough · 15/02/2021 21:05

@PinkSparklyPussyCat I dont think it would be very complicated to administer. You could opt out wholly or for specific organs/body parts and those are the ones you'd become a lower priority to receive.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 15/02/2021 21:08

I agree @Porcupineintherough. I'm happy to donate anything life/sight saving but that's all.

If the donation service could guarantee that other things won't be added to the current list or donors would be notified then I would have remained on the register.

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