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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU To think that if you are not on a doner register you should give up any rights to a donated organ?

324 replies

littlemoominmamma · 04/12/2009 14:04

Do you think this would be a reasonable idea? If you have an organ donation card you should be entitled to an organ.... if not then that is your choice?

OP posts:
chegirlwithbellson · 04/12/2009 15:05

Kat I cant begin to tell you just how amazing she was. I think people may suspect I was making it up

She was the most incredible
human being I have ever known. I am stunned that I had anything to do with producing her TBH.

santa thats why I tell people. I know sometimes it might seem I am banging on about her randomly but I cant stand the thought of it all being for nothing. If people could really see what it was like I am sure the majority would take the step. I think people are basically good but need a push.

ljhooray · 04/12/2009 15:08

Wanted to post my vote for opt out - any state ownership fear you may feel would be quickly dispelled if you faced organ failure. My dd owes her existence to a daddy who received an organ. Just lost my dad who would have desperately loved to donate and if he had been able, I think it would have been just a little something to hold onto through the pain

2ChildrenPlusLA · 04/12/2009 15:09

Bunny

There are scare stories about being in a coma and having the machines switched off prematurely because someone wants your liver!

mummygirl · 04/12/2009 15:09

tehtersend You're in my mind...

McSnail · 04/12/2009 15:10

After reading the title of this thread, I've just registered! Used to have one of those wee cards, but I don't think they 'do' those anymore...

wearthefoxhat · 04/12/2009 15:10

I am on certain drugs which mean I can't give blood, and I assume (must check it out) that I can't give organs - I hope this would never mean that I wouldn't recieve an organ if I was in that situation.

minkiemoo · 04/12/2009 15:16

I see your point, but don't agree that someone should be denied the right to an organ if they are not on the register.
I also disagree with a more genral point that if you are on the donor register your relatives can over-ride your request because they may not agree with organ donation.

I'm on the register and as far as I'm concerned they can use anything they like!!

duchesse · 04/12/2009 15:25

, tethersend

emsyj · 04/12/2009 15:35

What makes me is that I am a registered organ donor, my view is that they can take whatever they want once I am dead, and yet MY wishes won't count for anything if I do die, as they will still need consent from my next of kin to be able to use any of my organs. That irks me. I would prefer to make this decision for myself, not leave it to DH after I'm gone (although I would hope he would let them take whatever they could use).

Opt-out is a great idea, I wish they'd bring that in.

I do give blood, although can't at the moment as I am pregnant. I am still getting regular letters from the Blood Service asking me to make an appointment to donate and that annoys me too - they have updated the name on their records to reflect my married name, and yet don't seem to have access to the records that would show them that I am pregnant and therefore unable (temporarily) to donate. I am not sure whether this is down to poor IT systems or data protection gone mad.

emsyj · 04/12/2009 15:39

Oh, should clarify that the Blood Service can only know my new married name because I told my local GP - I haven't informed them directly. And yet they don't know that I am pregnant. Hey ho.

LetThereBeRock · 04/12/2009 15:42

I'm still against opt out but they should remove the rule that means that one's relatives can override one's wishes if one has chosen to become an organ donor.

RainRainGoAway · 04/12/2009 15:43

Just registered as was still not sure I was on the list.

There should definitely be an opt out system. That way, people with very strong views about their personal autonomy of their body after death have still the option of not being a donor. But, those that are apathetic, well, surely if it saves someones life it is a good thing?

I would also have a great big gert X against having any of my family veto my decision to be a donor. My DH knows this in no uncertain terms.

NicknameTaken · 04/12/2009 15:45

I don't agree with the OP, but seeing this post did make me go and register! Had been meaning to do so for ages, so good to have a nudge.

Tbh, I'd be fine with an opt out system.

RockBird · 04/12/2009 15:47

Those that are apathetic just might not have got round to opting out, the same as those of us who would donate but haven't got round to opting in. But you've now given the power to someone else to take what isn't theirs. Except it is because it's all been signed over regardless of how we feel about it.

RainRainGoAway · 04/12/2009 15:50

But they still have the choice Rockbird. And it should be made ridiculously easy to opt out, ie when applying for a licence, every time you go to the doctors etc.

mathanxiety · 04/12/2009 15:50

If you needed an organ, you wouldn't be in good enough health probably, to donate. Someone sick enough to need a heart, for instance, probably has other organs that have been compromised so they couldn't be donated. And some people can't give blood for health reasons. What about babies needing a kidney or whatever... the idea of an eye for an eye doesn't make sense from any pov.

kinnies · 04/12/2009 15:56

Ive thought this , but I think the opt out is much better.

KurriKurri · 04/12/2009 16:11

As a few people have mentioned some of us can't be organ or blood doners. Don't assume everyone not on the register is apathetic. I'm very aware that I have had far more out of the NHS than I've paid in from taxes.I've received a fair amount of blood from others and I'm incredibly grateful to people who have donated, and on occasion saved my life.

One of the great things about our health service, is that there is no 'you only get out what you put in' criterion for care. The idea of people being turned away, because they haven't paid their dues (or got themselves on the register) frightens me.

Of course organ donation is a brilliant thing to do, and there should be more awareness campaigns so people give the matter some thought before a tragic situation arises, when such decisions are harder to make.

Sassybeast · 04/12/2009 16:15

I understand the logic of the thinking OP and at first glance, it seems like an 'obvious' solution. But it is unworkable.

But good on you for posting it because hopefully, if even one person who reads it and registers, then it's all good

Apathy is an awful disease.

misdee · 04/12/2009 16:16

when peter was waiting for his heart, he went into liver and kidney failure. fortunatly they were able to reverse that, but he is at higher risk of needing further transplants later in life.

UnquietDad · 04/12/2009 16:19

Is a doner register something which entitles you to eat a kebab?

(Sorry, don't mind me, as you were..)

cakeslover · 04/12/2009 16:29

YABVU. but as kat2907 said there should be an opt out scheme tough.

chegirlwithbellson · 04/12/2009 16:34

I doubt if the op was referring to people who cant donate.

Perhaps more aimed at those who 'ewww I couldnt do that. Im not being funny but its just the thought of it blah blah blah'

They tend to get on my nerves a bit.

I was so suprised at the amount of people who cant give blood . OH cant because he has MS. Although there is absolutly no evidence that MS can be transmitted through blood. Loads of people are excluded.

I always cry when I give blood. They think I am mental but hey ho. I ended up shouting at the midwive during labour 'dont give me a transfusion, dont!!!!' She thought I was a Jehovahs Witness . I would be distraught if I couldnt donate anymore. Feel guilty enough cos I am pg again and am not allowed.

KurriKurri · 04/12/2009 16:35

Ooops 'donor' sorry UQD

arabicabean · 04/12/2009 17:06

Littlemooetc - What a naive OP and further comment

"Guess my great idea is actually unworkable and not so great. Our bodies are sooo re-useable it is such a pity we dont think about it a bit more."

Do you really think that the average person spends a lot of time thinking about their own premature death? That is quintessentially what organ donation is about - one's own death and someone else's benefit (obviously there are also live donations for certain organs).

If you are healthy and young you tend not to focus on your own mortality. You are busy living and not expecting to die just yet.

Transplantation using organs grown from stem cells is the ultimate way forward. It has already been sucessfully carried out (transplant of windpipe grown from stem cells).

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