I’ve withdrawn from organ donation register

[Purpledogcollar]

I give blood and have always been very pro organ donation.

Sadly I have just withdrawn as protest against reproductive organ donation. I can’t support it and am very conflicted as would like to donate other organs.

What are your views and is it a hasty decision (although not sure I would change my mind).

Why the mass hysteria about this? Someone received a uterus transplant from their sister - very much experimental medicine and certainly not something that will be commonly done.

As for the opt in/opt out thing. You still have to have the permission of your next of kin, even if you opt in/are on the organ donor register. Your next of kin will still be able to specify what organs are donated. It’s absolutely fine to not want to donate your uterus. What isn’t ok is adding to a miss informed, mass hysteria about organ donation that may decrease the already limited amount of organs available for transplant.

I have opted out because I have been through a traumatic sudden loss where all these issues came up in family discussion. I am not against my organs being donated, I just want my family to be able to say yes or no to any organ donation, or selected organ donation, as they are comfortable at the time. I don't want to increase their potential trauma by having things taken or done to my body that causes them distress. I saw how strongly my children felt about these things at the time we had to make decisions. For this reason, I have stated in my directive that every child of mine must agree for something to happen.

I hope you also withdraw from accepting medical treatments such as transfusions, transplants, and grafts which rely on other people’s altruism. Throw in the kind support snd medical treatment from trans medical professionals as well.

I think that the threat of routine uterine, testicular or ovarian donations in the near future isn’t as far fetched as some posters are making it out to be. You seem to have a lot of faith in our government and medical ethics authorities.
Perhaps they need a campaign making it clear that these type of donations would only ever be “opt-in” and explicit consent would need to be obtained from the donor, not the family?

You still have to have the permission of your next of kin, even if you opt in/are on the organ donor register. Your next of kin will still be able to specify what organs are donated.
This system allows relatives to negate your consent. People who are anti donation can refuse your organs even if you consent. I really can't understand why people can't see there's a problem with the current system.

This point exactly. It seems so spiteful.

I posted this earlier but to be honest, even if people come back and say no they wouldn’t I say bollocks. The will to live is so strong. I would find it very hard to believe anyone who said they would refuse a heart transplant, leave their families and just die instead.

What happens if someone hasn’t opted out , they are married so their first next of kin (wife) says no they don’t want their organs donated but their mother (second next of kin) says to go ahead and harvest organs ? Who has the final say ?

It's very clear as to what tissue can be donated for donation purposes and currently it is very specific tissues - corneas, tendons, heart valves, skin and bone - as options and you can opt out of any or all of them if you so wish;

https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/helping-you-to-decide/about-organ-donation/tissue-donation/

As for tissue to be donated for research purposes, this is also very strictly regulated and you will usually only be asked if you wish to do ate if there is a medical reason - eg you have a medical condition and by donating tissue samples it will help find a cure/treatment - which is again all set out on the HTA website and is very clear that express consent is required, at which point they would cover exactly what they want to take and what the tissue would be used for: Consent is always required for research on human tissue from deceased patients ... If there is no record of the deceased person’s wishes, consent for research can be obtained from someone nominated by that person to act on on their behalf or from someone in a qualifying relationship to them at the time of their death.

https://www.hta.gov.uk/guidance-public/body-organ-and-tissue-donation/donating-your-tissue-research

When I'm dead. I doubt I'll give a fig about whether or not my womb is used in organ transplants. It'll be no use to me will it!

I genuinely would prefer to die than receive a heart transplant.

I couldn’t cope with knowing that part of someone else’s body is inside me. If / when my own body can’t sustain me, then that’s that.

The first next of kin. I have a directive that says all my children have to agree on donations and things though.

To be 100% honest - no.

I am not a free source of organs or "tissue" to be used as the medical profession sees fit.

Should one of my children (now adult) require a kidney or liver transplant then I would donate without a second thought as a live doner. I would even agree to one of those ones where you donate to a stranger in an organ swap chain. I might even do a totally altruistic one.

However that is with my full informed consent and agreement and that makes the difference.

I sort of get it but then...
I don't need my womb, or ovaries. I can't have children (want but can't have) due to financial reasons but it works and it's healthy. If it was easy enough and safe then take my womb because it's no use to me. And if it gave someone the chance to have a child that couldn't otherwise then I'm fine with it
If I'm dead then take the lot, no use to me

Your family makes the final decision so ensure they know your wishes.

I have a friend who has 4 kids and a chronic lung disease. She will die within the next few years unless she has a lung transplant. Please don’t withdraw organ donation, or at least be selective about which ones you feel able to donate. You decision is literally a life or death situation.

What if one of your kids needs a heart transplant? They could be given a heart "as the medical profession saw fit"

Well you're entitled to your principles.

If you'd rather die by refusing a life saving organ because you disagree with others having the right to donate their reproductive organs, that's your choice

If you're opting out because you disagree with other people having choices but would still take an organ, then its utterly hypocritical.

Can you imagine standing by the bed of a loved one, waiting for a kidney/heart/liver to become available, for one never to because donors don't want to donate reproductive organs? You do know that could be you waiting? Why wouldn't you just specify what you want to donate and what not?

And to honestly say that you'd refuse a life saving donation is unspeakably selfish if you have family and friends

@melj1213 I appreciate what you're saying but it's obviously not clear, given that this thread exists.

And also, @Thelnebriati is quite right (in my view) that the whole system needs an overhaul, given that some bonkers 'next of kin' can overrule the best laid schemes of the most prudent, conscientious potential organ donor.

I don't believe they would refuse.

i've told my family my wishes, its also in my will, and if anyone in my family goes against that i will haunt their asses.

my soul will have moved on, putting perfectly decent organs in a fire or in the ground to rot is a stupid, selfish waste.

They can have any bit of me they want when I go - if it saves a life or gives someone some hope for the future I would be thrilled - but either way, it’ll be no use to me.