I’ve withdrawn from organ donation register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Sadly I have just withdrawn as protest against reproductive organ donation.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).

People can see there is a problem, but it won't change. Look at the number of women rushing to opt out because a live woman donated a womb to her live sister. Imagine the scale of scandal in the press/social media/on MN if a family said "we didn't want our relatives organs to be taken and they were donated anyway" nobody would give 1 single shit about the fact the person had opted in and it was THEIR decision for THEIR body.

This. Perfect response.

Its a shame, this thread could have been a useful discussion about ethics, the pros and cons, and the problems with other people being able to override your consent.
Constant posts trying to shame people into donating aren't going to change anyone's mind. The current system is wrong. It needs changing, and it hasn't reassured anyone who can see the massive changes coming in the future.

Agree.

It's your body, it's fair enough for you to decide what happens to it after your death. A few people will try to make you feel guilty, because that's what unpleasant busybodies do. Just ignore them.

I personally won't be bothering with organ donation because all of mine are likely to be in dodgy condition or worse. 😂

If I were to become so ill that I required an organ transplant, I'd rather take that as my cue to be shuffling off.

Nice try!

That would be their choice and nothing to do with me. As I mentioned they are now adult and I have no say about whether they choose to donate or receive organs.

Im an organ donor. They can part me out- the more lives I save or improve the better. I won’t need my body any more when I die.

I do think after reading this thread that there should be a requirement that you be a donor to be a recipient.

I was a very loyal blood donor from the age we could start donating, even declined blood transfusions (when being pushed on me after major haemorrhages during childbirths), in order to keep my blood donor status. However, after a blood bank nurse humiliated me in front of a large number of people during the pandemic, I have stopped donating blood.

I had also opted in to organ donation since I was a teenager, however, the day they made it opt out, I opted myself, husband and children all out. I was disgusted when they changed it. The state do not own our bodies and this was a step too far for me.

YANBU.

There are some cultures and belief systems that are opposed to transplants, I wouldn't criticise them for it as it's bound up with ideas around care of the deceased's body and the afterlife.

Crazy that you can opt anyone in and out on the website as long as you know their name, address, date of birth. Seems like the system is open to abuse.

Although I seem to remember family have the right to veto organ donation regardless of donor consent.

Wow that is seriously harsh and shows so little understanding of the reasons people may opt out

I myself opted out as I have an autoimmune condition that's very little understood and I wouldn't want to risk the chance of my organs maybe passing it on (I can't register to donate bone marrow because of it but I can register for organ donation which seems risky to me)

I saw another person up thread who removed themselves for the same reason as they'd previously had cancer

I wouldn't want to run the risk of my organs appearing healthy (and it is often a very quick decision that needs making) but making an already very ill person worse yet you seem to think that should exclude me and my child from the register if we ever needed it?

Quite. Just state which ones you would be willing to donate. People willing effectively to let others die as some sort of stupid protest are frankly contemptible.

Complete overreaction to something which is not even an issue.

There has been ONE womb transplant performed in the UK where the donated uterus was provided by the recipient's sister. The uterus is not on the list of NHS donor organs and as many PP have linked, it is specifically excluded.

Well I don't think they can have that requirement given that anyone sick enough to need an organ isn't able to be a donor.

Besides, some people are not comfortable with receiving blood or organs from others anyway, so this would not sway them otherwise anyway.

Straw man argument. This is solely about OPs "reason", nothing to do with unsuitability on medical grounds.

I was asking you to consider and share how you would feel in that circumstance. Sorry for the assumption that youd underatand someone waiting for an urgent heart transplant is usually so unwell they are on bypass and not able to engage in decision making...hence using your phrase "medical professionals doing as they see fit". You indicated that you thought that was a bad thing, I'm curious to know if you think it would stillbe a bad thing in a situation which benefitted you (one of your kids not dying)

@BillaBongGirlI do think after reading this thread that there should be a requirement that you be a donor to be a recipient.

You really haven't thought this through. I'm unable to be a donor as I've received a blood transfusion.
Edit for formatting.

Thank goodness brain transplant isn't a thing.

I’ve removed myself from the list because I’ve been treated for cancer.

Had I just had surgery and five clear years I’d say, ‘go for it, take what you want’, although I’d be a little concerned.

However, I also had radiotherapy -I can feel the lasting damage, every day- so, no heart or lungs from me, just in case.

I also had chemotherapy and monoclonal antibody treatment for 12 months -the devastation that takes on your body is awful. So no, I don’t think it’d be ethical to transplant my chemically damaged organs into a vulnerable person.

Obviously I wasn’t talking about simultaneously donating an organ to get an organ like a part exchange market FGS. I’ll give you one of my corneas if you give me a bit of your liver…..

We aren’t all born sick or remain sick/or born injured or remain injured all our lives. Nor are all our donatable organs and tissue failing all at once.

But surely it's more traumatic to force them to make that decision without any guidance especially if there is a split decision?

Idk how many kids you have but if there's three and two want to donate your organs and one doesn't then don't you think that will put more strain on them to have to have that argument, knowing that there is going to be a rift caused because of their choices, rather than saying "Mum has stated she wants to donate XYZ but not ABC, do you have an objection to that?"

I have three siblings, I could not imagine having to make the decision about our parents organs and it have to be a unanimous decision because it would put massive strain on our relationship if there was someone who felt differently to the rest.

I am opted in and I have talked with teen DD many times over the years about organ donation as we have an extended family member who received a kidney transplant years ago. I have always said I am happy for all of my organs to be donated, and have registered as such, because I don't want the burden to be on her to make that decision (not that I intend for it to happen any time soon but as I'm separated from ExDH my NoK are DD and my parents). I have made my decision and she knows what I am happy with so all she has to do is give consent to whatever she is comfortable with but she will do so in full knowledge of my personal wishes and the knowledge that she is donating whatever she is comfortable with, with my blessing.

I work in healthcare and have looked after many transplant recipients. My DH works within organ donation so I definitely know enough to have my opinions founded in fact.

You opting out based on you thinking you know more about the potential suitability of your organs than transpmants surgeons is frankly laughable. Its probably one of the most stricly regulated aspects of the NHS.

In my country I can donate a few months after being a recipient. So I have the option to donate. I've been a recipient but never donated as my iron levels have never quite recovered. I'd like to but I don't think it's a good idea. I want to give back. If I could get my ferritin up, I'd be down there donating tomorrow. I don't think this makes me a hypocrite. I just don't feel it's wise for me at the moment.

No-one is talking about people who opt out for valid medical reasons.. i would even say if you have fears/religious reasons/ethical reasons around it fine... your body, your choice.

However, if you're one of the idiots opting out because of the ignorance, mis-information and rampant transphobia around reproductive organ donation, i think you're stupid, and selfish.

This x 100.

I strongly believe in bodily autonomy. Don’t donate if you don’t feel comfortable. But attention seeking posts like this over a topic that is life and death leaves a bad taste in my mouth.