Donation of organs 'should be automatic' upon death

[LittleLupin]

Story here

"People should automatically have their organs removed for transplant after they die unless they opted out while alive, Britain's most senior doctor is expected to say tomorrow in his annual report."

Sounds like a good idea to me.

peachy - I'm sure he's a reasonable enough bloke but... not to beleive in anaesthetic??! I'm guessing he's never had gallstones. Mind you they were so painful I think I would have let them operate without anaesthetic.

potions, thanks for pointing that out. I wish this information was more widely known and then perhaps more people would be less scared about agreeing to donate.

Refusing on religious/faith grounds I can respect (although I can't get my head around people who refuse life saving treatment for their children, just can't I am afraid) but refusing on the grounds that they might be not be treated is pretty narrow minded imo - I bet many of those people wouldn't refuse an organ if they needed one.

Here are my reasons for not wanting to donate. Don't all jump on me, am not trying to convert anyone to my way of thinking, not looking for a fight, just want to put an alternative view. I have sympathy and sorrow for anyone who has been in this position, I'm not a heartless selfish bitch, nor am I religious btw.

• the numbers don't add up. There will never be "enough" organs for those that want them,(How many ppl are on those waiting lists?) therefore transplanrts and transplanrt research is a bit of a cul de sac and the resources should go into prevention and cure

-I don't want to view my fellow human beings as an old engine that can be stripped down for spare parts- we are not machines made up of "components" that are interchangeable and to assume so misses what it is to be human (imo)

• Its the thin end of the wedge re belonging to the state

• Overintrusive medical intervention- preserving life at any cost not always desirable

-vivisection

Actually he was very severely injured in Ireland whilst in the Army and is an amputee, however there are psychological p[ains associated with amuptation that cause pain even in absence of the limb. Also hsi Dad was (and proven legally with compnensation) killed by medical neglect, so I just think his perspective is very different from ours iyswim

• don't understand that argument. Researching for benefit of future patients should not be mutually exclusive to trying to save those currently ill. Only 81 (?) people currentlly on the waiting list for a heart - bet we could get 81 hearts donated more quickly and before some of them die if more people opted in.

• "what it is to be human", until we start on brain transplants (which I would have an issue with!) I do exactly see the body as a machine to support what it is to be human. I'd be happy for mine to be stripped down for benefit of anyone.

• thin end of what wedge. I'm not a great conspiracy theaorist but I'm not sure what you think will happen next (given that you could opt out anyway)

• vivsection - is that an argument? Not sure what you mean.

-"preserving life at any cost not always desirable" agree with you there. But not sure the relevance to transplants though. AS an example - Peter is a young man with a young family and could potentially give him decides of life with a quality that is at least equal to (if not better than) his current quality of life. Where is the problem with that. Transplants are rarely used (only a guess) to prolong terminally ill patients.

AFAIK the criteria for a transplant is quite strong, ao they're not just given out open handedly. And whilst prolonging life sin't always best really that debate is mroe relevant to people who ahve diseasesd with horrid outcomes who want to die- whereas a transplant aptient surely would want to live?

don't have a problem putting your view btw (and presumably you would be one of the opted out people) but, except for your view that a body should not be stripped down for parts (which I don't agree with but can see), I don't think your arguments make very much sense.

not everyone can be saved by transplant, right now dh isnt a suitbale candiate for transplant. his condition couldnt be prevented or cured, as its a heart muscle problem. a virus attacked his heart causing it to swell massively and is now like an over inflated balloon.

shouldn;t you be packing Misdee?

just got in, having a brew before getting the older two from school in a few minutes