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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Nothing about being able to opt out of DNA testing?

197 replies

BlueJuniper94 · 27/06/2025 17:19

So why is there no mention of being able to opt out of this? Isn't this just going to encourage some people to avoid engaging with HCPs altogether?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1ljg7v0vmpo

OP posts:
MauriceTheMussel · 28/06/2025 12:05

Oh, and on blood donation, there was a thread a fortnight or so ago about how hard people now found it to donate blood

ETA as in logistically. Not much supply of services and whatnot

BlueJuniper94 · 28/06/2025 12:10

MauriceTheMussel · 28/06/2025 12:05

Pregnant women, HIV/AIDS etc

Did you not read the bit in my post where it said taking into consideration those with mitigating factors? Because I definitely wrote it. It's much better when people read all the words.

OP posts:
BlueJuniper94 · 28/06/2025 12:10

ttcat37 · 28/06/2025 12:05

Loads of people aren’t allowed to donate. Loads of medical conditions, if you’ve travelled to certain countries, had a recent tattoo, even if you’ve recently had anal sex with a new partner.

But they can all donate organs?

OP posts:
smallglassbottle · 28/06/2025 12:26

alexalisten · 28/06/2025 07:33

Conspiracy theorists always make me laugh they will literally believe anything they read online. Can you remember when people where saying the covid jab made them magnetic and we all needed to explain to them their just sticky and sweaty and need a wash.🤣🤣

I take it you haven't come across the case in N. America where the donor began to show signs of life prior to taking the organs? The surgeon insisted that the theatre team continue and they refused.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/man-was-still-alive-as-surgeons-were-about-to-harvest-his-organs-witnesses-allege/ar-AA1svByV

MSN

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/man-was-still-alive-as-surgeons-were-about-to-harvest-his-organs-witnesses-allege/ar-AA1svByV

Dontcallmescarface · 28/06/2025 12:40

BlueJuniper94 · 28/06/2025 12:01

Who is not allowed to donate?

Me and DP, both due to medical conditions.

Morgenrot25 · 28/06/2025 12:42

ttcat37 · 28/06/2025 11:59

I didn’t say I was owed an explanation.

Your words most definitely did imply that, even if you didn't specifically use the word 'owed'. 🫣

Morgenrot25 · 28/06/2025 12:45

Lots of people, for various reasons.
Google is your friend.

(This was in reply to 'who cannot donate' - I've somehow lost the quote).

smallglassbottle · 28/06/2025 12:47

Ladydish · 28/06/2025 08:19

Hopefully those reasons will also prevent you from receiving an organ transplant?

Yes, how many times do I have to say it? 🙄

To those asking, sorry to ruin your glee, but no, I won't be ever expecting to receive an organ and I have an advance directive to refuse treatment for many things.

smallglassbottle · 28/06/2025 12:48

AngelinaFibres · 28/06/2025 08:43

Presumably you'd happily accept an organ donation if you were in desperate need. You just don't want to donate organs that you have no need of anymore that could change another persons life. Nice.

RTFT 🙄

Morgenrot25 · 28/06/2025 12:51

smallglassbottle · 28/06/2025 12:47

Yes, how many times do I have to say it? 🙄

To those asking, sorry to ruin your glee, but no, I won't be ever expecting to receive an organ and I have an advance directive to refuse treatment for many things.

Megaphone Speakers GIF by ShibuichiWaika

I think you need one of these.....😬✌️

Livpool · 28/06/2025 12:56

Ninkynonkpinkyponks · 27/06/2025 22:33

Absolutely whole heartedly think anyone opting out of organ donation should be refused any organs should they need them

I agree with this

BlueJuniper94 · 28/06/2025 13:01

Morgenrot25 · 28/06/2025 12:45

Lots of people, for various reasons.
Google is your friend.

(This was in reply to 'who cannot donate' - I've somehow lost the quote).

Edited

Did my post not say "taking mitigating reasons into consideration"? You'll find it did.

OP posts:
Lithiumday · 28/06/2025 13:10

Livpool · 28/06/2025 12:56

I agree with this

Then thank goodness you're not in charge.

Which other groups who have displeased you would you like refuse treatment to?

smallglassbottle · 28/06/2025 13:20

Regarding the OP's original post about newborns. It's all good apart from data breaches. Which happen regularly. See 23andMe DNA data breach. Would you honestly trust the NHS to keep such important data safe? They have already been subject to data breaches.

Insurance companies can save themselves millions by having this information.

Morgenrot25 · 28/06/2025 13:23

BlueJuniper94 · 28/06/2025 13:01

Did my post not say "taking mitigating reasons into consideration"? You'll find it did.

🫣

Lardychops · 28/06/2025 13:23

smallglassbottle · 27/06/2025 17:26

It'll be like organ donation where they've made it difficult to opt out and everyone is automatically opted in. I opted out a few years ago, then found out through my driving licence card that I'd been opted in again. I've had to go through two different websites to opt back out.

The state believe they own your body, living or dead.

How do we opt out?
I wish to do so and 5 out of 6 of my adult kids to do the same want to do the same.
DH said they can have the lot of him but I will veto that if I’m allowed.

Morgenrot25 · 28/06/2025 13:23

Lithiumday · 28/06/2025 13:10

Then thank goodness you're not in charge.

Which other groups who have displeased you would you like refuse treatment to?

Well said!

Morgenrot25 · 28/06/2025 13:24

Lardychops · 28/06/2025 13:23

How do we opt out?
I wish to do so and 5 out of 6 of my adult kids to do the same want to do the same.
DH said they can have the lot of him but I will veto that if I’m allowed.

There's a link further up page but googling 'organ donation opt out' should get you there too.

smallglassbottle · 28/06/2025 13:27

Lardychops · 28/06/2025 13:23

How do we opt out?
I wish to do so and 5 out of 6 of my adult kids to do the same want to do the same.
DH said they can have the lot of him but I will veto that if I’m allowed.

https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/register-your-decision/do-not-donate/

You fill it in, then they send you a letter, then you have to fill in another online form.

Do not donate

Record your decision not to become an organ donor on the NHS Organ Donor Register.

https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/register-your-decision/do-not-donate

smallglassbottle · 28/06/2025 13:30

There will be a code 115 on your driving licence - opposite side to photograph, in the bottom left hand corner - if you're opted in. This is how I discovered they'd opted me back in.

bookworm14 · 28/06/2025 13:33

DH said they can have the lot of him but I will veto that if I’m allowed.

You would overrule your husband’s wish to save someone else’s life?

WaryCrow · 28/06/2025 13:36

Nevertrustacop · 27/06/2025 17:33

I'm in two minds about this.
Should a parent be able to opt a baby out of something so potentially important to the childs health?

You mean, be able to opt out of their DNA being sold to American companies for profit?

I totally agree, this should be a right. As it was just a few short years, even months, ago, before Britain’s elites decided they want AI. No one would have had to consider the question at all back when we had European citizenship rights.

We are all owned by the lords and masters who invaded us in 1066. Owning serfs isn’t good enough for them anymore - they want ownership of our bodies, thoughts, and ability to reproduce. In other words, they view us as slaves.

WaryCrow · 28/06/2025 14:06

smallglassbottle · 28/06/2025 13:20

Regarding the OP's original post about newborns. It's all good apart from data breaches. Which happen regularly. See 23andMe DNA data breach. Would you honestly trust the NHS to keep such important data safe? They have already been subject to data breaches.

Insurance companies can save themselves millions by having this information.

It’s not just data breaches, although that is a massive concern. It’s not that long since London hospitals had a massive ransomware attack.

Ransom by nefarious people, whether they’re funded by rich stupid teens in bedrooms or bad political political actors is bad enough.

The other half is who trusts this government, in the political direction of our times, following the gradual assimilation of ownership of all material that’s ever been made publicly accessible? Do you trust a state run by elites we have little day-to-day control over? Do you trust a state that’s already forced the use of computers everywhere and is now seriously talking about forcing AI? That is apparently seriously putting out concerns about water shortages in this Atlantic island for their AI ambitions? In a political climate where artists have already had to start campaigns to stop government assumptions of ownership over all creative work produced here, past, present and future? A state that doesn’t even bother to ask how high before it jumps for America, that’s oh-so-proud of its ‘open’, entirely vulnerable economy?

Start thinking about the value of information because we have already lost so much access to it.

MauriceTheMussel · 28/06/2025 14:38

BlueJuniper94 · 28/06/2025 12:10

Did you not read the bit in my post where it said taking into consideration those with mitigating factors? Because I definitely wrote it. It's much better when people read all the words.

Calm your tits. I was sincerely answering a question (“who is not allowed to donate?”) I interpreted as someone being genuinely curious.

ZoeCM · 28/06/2025 14:41

Hopefully this will be a wake-up call for anyone thinking of lying to their child about their true parentage. Yes, I'm aware that this scheme isn't going to test for paternity/maternity - but this is just the beginning. DNA tests will soon be a routine part of healthcare, and we're sitting on a ticking timebomb. A lot of "full" siblings are going to find out that they're actually half-siblings, or aren't even related at all.

I'm amazed by the MN posters who blithely announce that they've lied by omission to their child about being donor-conceived, or advise cheating women to "keep quiet if the potential dads look similar enough", or let their child believe that their stepdad is their real dad. Doing that in the 50s was bad enough, but doing it in an era where 23andMe exists is painfully stupid.