New Opt Out Organ Donation System comes into effect today

[Al1Langdownthecleghole]

I've just gone on to register my wishes, (link below if anyone else wants to do likewise).

I was concerned that under the new regulations requiring you to opt-out of becoming a transplant donor, it would not be possible to specifically opt-out of donating my reproductive organs.

In fact, if you opt to only donate some of your organs and select the ones you are happy to be used, reproductive organs are not listed as a choice, although "tissue" is, and I do wonder how widely tissue could be interpreted.

For now, I am choosing to opt-out of donating tissue, but would be willing to donate the other organs specifically listed.

Sadly, there is the inevitable question about gender. Even when talking about cadaver transplants, it would seem gender trumps biology.

www.organdonation.nhs.uk/register-your-decision/register-your-details/?

Most people think of heart, lung, kidneys maybe eyes when they think of organ donation. But the range of human tissue sought, and its uses is extensive. So extensive there is real financial profit to be made from them. I do not trust the state not to seek to profit in this way at some point in the future.

amp.theguardian.com/media/2005/dec/23/bbc.usnews

Thanks OP I saw this in my inbox and haven't done it yet but because they ask for gender I might opt out for that reason alone

So you are happy to deprive somebody of a much needed transplant because you object to language ? Ffs, it's not something trivial like you are applying for a loyalty card. Get a grip.

Thank you for your reply Goosefoot. Personally, I'm not against assisted death as I believe it firmly falls into the realm of bodily autonomy.

I find the consent angle raised by others really interesting but I feel that the default state being 'not donating' is based upon the individual's own views as to what they'd like to happen to their body after their death. I would like to ask why that position takes precedent over, for example, my wishes not being respected and whatever parts of my body that might prove useful being unceremoniously incinerated (which seems like a tremendous waste).

Also agree that people opting out of organ donation shouldn't be eligible to receive.

I read this a lot on forums but it is not medically ethical. If someone donated their organs to save a life, they go to the person who they think it will save their life. They won't skip over a better candidate just to have someone else wither away and die with a new organ just because they're on the donor list.

I don't have the options in my country that you have, I'd love to donate some organs but have a problem with how it's decided/worded now. I'd much rather see that there would be a database where everyone can explicitely state which orgams they want to donate and which aren't. Also, people not on the donor list might have been a blood donor during their life, or given tissue to further medical research.

Also agree that people opting out of organ donation shouldn't be eligible to receive.

People who don’t donate blood, shouldn’t be permitted to receive blood*

Unemployed people, furloughed and part time workers who refuse to work in care work, shouldn’t receive care.

Furloughed people who refuse volunteer to pick fruit and veg during the current shortage of farm workers, shouldn’t be permitted to buy fruit and veg.

People who break the current government guild lines, re coronavirus, shouldn’t receive treatment.

And so on and so on. Let’s face it, if you can make silly statements, then so can I. I have opted out my daughter, because she can’t give informed consent, as she has SNs. Is that ok with those demanding that we all consent, or should I just hand over her body to please those who think that the government should own our bodies?

So you are happy to deprive somebody of a much needed transplant because you object to language

Actually, language is very important in this situation. The correct medical term is ‘sex’ as studies have shown that even donating blood from a female to a male, rather than male to male, can have an detrimental affect on that man’s health. Whereas the gender doesn’t matter. I expect a government consultation on a medical issue, to at least use the correct language.

This issue really does bring out the people who're not just authoritarian but loud and proud about it, doesn't it? I wonder if you'd get the same tone if they knew they were speaking mostly to men.

People who break the current government guild lines, re coronavirus, shouldn’t receive treatment.

I've seen tons of people making that statement, unfortunately. Also unfortunately from their pov health care workers tend not to agree with the idea that they should stand back and let rule breakers die.

I’m pleased this thread is here as it’s opened my eyes to see that there is more to organ donation than I realised.

Interestingly on the daily mail website a man made a comment which I actually could see his point.
“If the state want control over my body then they can pay for my funeral”

Most people think of heart, lung, kidneys maybe eyes when they think of organ donation. But the range of human tissue sought, and its uses is extensive. So extensive there is real financial profit to be made from them. I do not trust the state not to seek to profit in this way at some point in the future.

Absolutely.

Also agree that people opting out of organ donation shouldn't be eligible to receive.

Form whatever silly opinions you like, but thinking people will be disquiet about this switch, and we all have the right to protest appropriately.

If the state suddenly turned vindictive against those of us who have been lifelong blood donors, donor card holders etc, merely because we were protesting the new opt-out presumption, they’d look pretty sinister.

Sorry, the above post was two responses to two quotes from two people. Hope that’s obvious!

It does show where demands that we all conform to a certain mindset can ultimately lead us. Re the Covid file breakers, the ones who have parties and unrelated group gatherings seriously piss me off and I don’t have any sympathy for those that catch it as a result, but although I’d love them to refuse treatment on principle, that also goes down a slippery sloop.

Next it will be saying that people who do something else that affects their OWN health, such as being overweight, smoking or taking part in dangerous sports, shouldn’t receive treatment. Though I have seen that actually suggested a few times. Opting out of donating, whether it’s your time, money, blood or organs shouldn’t remove your rights to receive. That’s totalitarian thinking.

I don't see why people who choose to opt out of organ donation should be allowed to change their minds

What, ever? So all the years I carried a card to say I want to donate everything except my eyes dont count? Tell you what if the government make enough changes I might be persuaded to opt back in, but oh no I cant cos you've said I cant change my mind. Try thinking about what you post.

If the state want control over my body then they can pay for my funeral
I would go further, if the state own me and my component body parts, they can pay me for living in entirety. After all they stand a chance of making a good profit when I die.

It's the vindictive tone of those comments that always interests me, like the person is so enraged that someone might once have had the capacity to tell them no and so excited that now/soon that may no longer be the case.

I don't see why people who choose to opt out of organ donation should be allowed to change their minds

Like this, if you think organ donation should be as widespread as possible this doesn't even make sense. If you want people to do it why wouldn't you want to let them opt back in again? It just comes across as "grr so angry, want to punish even if doing so is counterproductive and works against my own stated goals".

I would go further, if the state own me and my component body parts, they can pay me for living in entirety. After all they stand a chance of making a good profit when I die

I love MN for issues like this. Emergency rations of pithy thinking.

Thank you for the reminder. I have opted out. A family member in health care in the US long ago suggested that we all do that based on the unethical behaviour around organ harvesting that she has seen.

Surely they wouldn’t actually transplant reproductive organs/use ova fit ivf? I thought that organ donation only occurred for research or medical necessity? I’ve been a registered would be organ donor for years and haven’t even considered this. I’m perfectly happy for my reproductive tissues to be used for research but it’s obviously not acceptable to start using it to conceive children.

@forsucksfake what did she see?

Next it will be saying that people who do something else that affects their OWN health, such as being overweight, smoking or taking part in dangerous sports, shouldn’t receive treatment.

On that principle, is it wrong to tax unhealthy foods/products and require insurance for those engaging in dangerous sports?

Rather depends on how "medical necessity" is defined, Covidicus, and TRAs have been attempting to define everything that they'd like to have done to themselves or others as medically essential for years.

Organ donation shouldn't be optional imo. Once you're dead, your body/organs should be available for research/transplants etc

I oppose assisted conception and infertility treatment. I always have done. I was only a teenager when the first IVF baby, Louise Brown was born. I thought it was wrong then and still do. My tissue is not available for research into assisted conception.

Next it will be saying that people who do something else that affects their OWN health, such as being overweight, smoking or taking part in dangerous sports, shouldn’t receive treatment
Anyone who ever spouts this nonsense has never thought it through.

Get in a car accident, tough shit it's a dangerous activity. You rode your pushbike in the cycle lane but were hit by a bus, oh well cycling is dangerous dont ya know.
Threw yourself out of your home which was on fire? Dang ya should have waited for the fire brigade despite the real possibility you would die.

On that principle, is it wrong to tax unhealthy foods/products and require insurance for those engaging in dangerous sports?

Very different things, as they have nothing to do with receiving treatment. Lots of stuff is taxed that we may or may not agree with. Dangerous sports often have insurance, because standard life insurance or critical illness won’t pay out in cases of death or illness caused by dangerous sports.

banana

I think that people who make stupid comments like that just haven’t thought about how it would affect them and their loved ones...they lack empathy

And the whole ‘no organs For you unless you are prepared To donate’ is another....its not a hop skip and a jump to ‘ no blood for you unless you donate’

Ridiculous