Do you back opt-out organ donation>

[eleusis]

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7051235.stm

I'm not sure how I feel about this. I appreciate they are trying to save lives and that is of course a good thing. But, I think people should have to give consent for their organs to be removed, not consent to have them left in tact. There's just something creepy out thinking my organs will be taken away the second I am pronouncec dead. But, if you asked me if I'd be willing to donate my organs when I die I'd say yes of course. I guess I just want to choice to be mine (or my next of kin).

That is correct.But I still believe all doctors and medical staff are there to preserve life and that is their first priority and organ donation is only broached when there is no further hope

Absolutely!
What I tried to say, in a very morbid and well clumsy way is, that the person we are talking about the donor, would be dead, but "stable" ( a machine will keep the blood pumping aroudn teh body, supplying oxygen, but the person one knows will have departed already)...so, there is no rush decision to make, and they are not whipped away, respect and dignity are important to all parties....

And I would think the same will stand in the opt out system....

bodyholder, but that would not change under the opt out system......... they would not let people die just to save someone elses life....the donor is dead already!

that is truebodycolder. docs and medical profession wont let someone die just to harvest organs (another myth that is often put forward). they will try and preserve life where possible. they have to do two brain stem tests as well, to be sure.

its not a nice thing to discuss and is a very emotional subject.

i'm off to bed now.

closer for you then anyone....

i take qoq's concerns on board...
but i also believe in an opt out system.
i think id explode if i were waiting for an organ for any member of my family and just not getting it - whatever the reasons, i would just be wishing with all my heart that somebody somewhere would get past all that and manage to give that most precious gift of another chance to my loved one...

and i also, quite selfishly, hope that even if i die, a little part or parts of me could live on in other people... i feel all virtuous and altruistic in my totally narcissistic desire to live forever and be thought Good!

I do know that!I have had a transplant and am all for opt out Am just trying to reassure others that there is no chance of the other scenario x

I thought that there was still an element of timing to the donation though, and in reality it can take at least 36 hours to get back from some parts of the world (and I'm in the oil business, so not always near an international airport with direct flights home!). I was under the impression that they try to harvest within 24 hours of brain stem death being confirmed, but I guess that may have changed.

But I'm not one of the target audience to be converted - I'm pro donation and my family know it. I'm citing an example of when someone might not want to agree to donation, though the most likely reason is they do not agree with the premise that it doesn't matter what happens to the organs after death: it does matter.

honest...it's the stabilised dead that are the ones that can donate....anyone that just dies...organs become less and less usable....
again does sound horrid and blunt....

bodyholder, misunderstood your thinking there....I interpreted it as a yes...but...iywim....sorry!

i think opt out is good. a few people feel strongly enough to opt in but most don't really have an opinion either way so don't. if those people who didn't have an opinion either way so didn't opt out there would be an awful lot more of available organs.

haven't had time to read through all the posts but i am very set against opt out.