Organ donation

[faginsgirl]

Threre is a debate on the news about `should organ donation be compulsory unless purposely opted out`. What do people think?

I personally couldn`t care less. I want others to benefit from my organs. I`ll either be as dead as a door nail or elsewhere where I don`t need my physical organs anyway. There seems no point in hanging onto them.

And then there are those who say, I`ll donate everything but my eyes , if you don`t have anything else, why would you need your them? Unless you intend to be just a pair of eyes walking around for eternity .

Just wondering what other people thought.

xx

[Richard_in_wales]

I'm all for organ donation as are all my immediate family.

[icetorch]

Let me be honest, I am not the charitable sort. Friends and family, well, yes - but even some of them you can fall out with. But what if say your heart saved the life of someone who later turned out to be a terrorist (particularly of THAT religion), a rapist, or had ginger hair? Have you thought of that? And I saw this programme in which some transplantees described having changed personalities. A bit of investigation showed they were taking on some of the traits of the deceased donor. OK, I don't know whether it's true or whether there's some other explanation. But there are scientists who think that brain cells occur in all our organs. We think our mind is generated by our brain (though there is some evidence that the mind can sometimes be independent of it) but cannot be entirely sure.

Anyway, that leaves some doubt as to whether I'd be truly dead if I left my organs to anyone. I'm not happy with that. And what if some transplantee got my heart, then suddenly told his dog-hating wife he was buying a dog. "But you've always hated dogs!" she cries. "Tough!" he says, buys one, and breaks up their marriage. Then he changes all his avatars to a hyena. His mates just can't understand it.

But above all, I believe that MY body is MY property. That is the basis of individualism in this country, I believe. So who is the STATE to tell me that it is their property, that they have first claim on it, and that I must suffer the indignity of explaining myself and signing a form if I want it back?! Disgraceful. We might as well bring back the Soviet Union, if that's what's going to happen.

[Steve Crook]

Threre is a debate on the news about `should organ donation be compulsory unless purposely opted out`. What do people think?

All of mine have been up for grabs ever since they first introduced organ donor cards. They're welcome to whatever they think is still usable. Although I've made good use of a lot of them so some of them might be a bit worn out

Given the number of people desperate for organs I see no reason why the default position shouldn't be to assume they've available. Under the current system, even if you've given consent they still waste time trying to get confirmation from the next of kin.

Any meanies like icetorch can always opt out

Steve

[moonfleet]

I got a donator card and a note in my wallet saying that if something happens to me (as death ) I would like to give all my organs (or what its left) to someone who needs it, and then burn the rest !! (I'm thinking about making the ashes throwed from some mountain like Everest or Himalaya, to give a challenge to friends and/or family, but haven't made up my mind yet )
Also I precised that I don't want my corpse (if it's still a whole) to be dissected by medecine students (in the case it could happen)

[dremble wedge]

It's a no-brainer as far as I'm concerned (and they can have that too )

[Steve Crook]

Also I precised that I don't want my corpse (if it's still a whole) to be dissected by medecine students (in the case it could happen)

I don't mind that. It's not easy for doctors to practice if they don't have some bodies to work on

But I'm not planning on dying. I'm immortal - so far

Steve

[faginsgirl]

But I'm not planning on dying. I'm immortal - so far

Steve

Go on admit it, you are loooking forward to being a ghost Steve

[ShirlGirl]

Let me be honest, I am not the charitable sort. Friends and family, well, yes - but even some of them you can fall out with. But what if say your heart saved the life of someone who later turned out to be a terrorist (particularly of THAT religion), a rapist, or had ginger hair? Have you thought of that?

No, I don't like the thought of a rapist or a terrorist receiving my organs or tissue, but in view of the thousands of people needing transplants I really don't think that should be a consideration. Most people are basically good folk and I could never withhold donating my organs just on the offchance that someone of dubious character might benefit.

Put yourself on the other side of the fence.... can you imagine what it would be like to need a live-saving donation and be on a waiting list? You'd think of all the thousands of useful, precious organs and tissue being burned or buried every week, while you're just waiting, waiting, waiting.


I could possibly become one of those people myself before too long. I have only one kidney and have a large aneurysm in the renal artery. I'm on a waiting list to have it coiled and stented, but in the event of something going wrong in the meantime, or during the procedure, I could find myself on dialysis and on a waiting list for a transplant. It's possible - though not probable - that I could even die and so I'm making sure that my one and only kidney will be donated. It's very big and works well! - fortunately the aneurysm is outside the kidney.


Why should I consider donating my organs and tissue?
One donor can save the lives of up to ten people and significantly improve the lives of dozens more. There are currently about 1,800 Australians waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. The average waiting time ranges from one year for a liver transplant to almost four years for a kidney transplant. Sadly, at least one person dies every week while on the transplantation waiting list.
- Kidney Health Australia

[Moor Larkin]

I imagine there are many people whose culture/religion/integration makes them think this is not a proper thing to do.
Blood Donation (Giving Blood) - NHS Choices
In particular, blood donations are needed from black and Asian people because the current levels of black and Asian donors are very low.

Contribution of attitudinal factors to blood donation in African American church attendees - James - 2010 - Transfusion - Wiley Online Library

Family legend says that my grandfather always said he'd leave his body to science, but his wife and daughters didn't think much of that idea whern he died, so he was cremated.

[Rowdon]

I want to wait until I die. After my death people can ask me whether or not I want to give up my organs. If I can't put up a robust argument for keeping them, they can have them.

[ShirlGirl]

I want to wait until I die. After my death people can ask me whether or not I want to give up my organs. If I can't put up a robust argument for keeping them, they can have them.

I got a donator card and a note in my wallet saying that if something happens to me (as death ) I would like to give all my organs (or what its left) to someone who needs it, and then burn the rest !!

I don't know how it works in other countries, but here it is not good enough merely to have a donor card in your wallet. You need to be on the Donor Register.

The Australian Organ Donor Register (the Donor Register) was established in November 2000 and is the only national register for organ and/or tissue donation for transplantation. The Donor Register keeps a record of your donation decision and of the organ and tissue you agree to donate.

The Donor Register ensures your donation decision can be verified 24 hours a day, seven days a week by authorised medical personnel, anywhere in Australia. In the event of your death, information about your donation decision may be accessed from the Donor Register by authorised medical personnel and provided to your family. It is important you discuss your donation decision with your family or those close to you as they will be asked to give consent. -Australian Organ Donor Register - Medicare Australia

[ShirlGirl]

As for the original question from Faginsgirl: "Should organ donation be compulsory unless purposely opted out?" What do people think?

IMO it's probably a good idea for the reason that although many people would have no objection, they simply don't bother to do anything constructive about it with regard to letting their next of kin know for sure, while others are either apathetic or a bit wishy-washy about it and never get around to making a definite decision. Making it "compulsory unless opted out" would encourage everyone to think seriously about it and anyone who is strongly against it could opt out without hesitation. No problem.

[CaptainWaggett]

Join the register

[ShirlGirl]

I imagine there are many people whose culture/religion/integration makes them think this is not a proper thing to do.

It's OK with the Jehovah's Witnesses as long as.... "All organs and tissues, however, must be completely drained of blood before transplantation."

"Romani people believe that for one year after a person dies, the soul retraces its steps. All of the parts of the body must be intact because the soul maintains a physical shape."

More here -- it seems most religions find organ donation acceptable -- http://www.donatelife.gov.au/Media/d...6cfae2d8-1.PDF

[faginsgirl]

"Romani people believe that for one year after a person dies, the soul retraces its steps. All of the parts of the body must be intact because the soul maintains a physical shape."

I have a big interest in Romani Culture, I have studied it a lot. But I didn`t know that Shirl! Cheers!

[jimw1]

"Romani people believe that for one year after a person dies, the soul retraces its steps. All of the parts of the body must be intact because the soul maintains a physical shape."

In that case' Im keeping all my Bits.....

[Mr Sloane]

I'm for opt out, in fact when I go they can take what they want and throw rest on tip.

[faginsgirl]

I want to wait until I die. After my death people can ask me whether or not I want to give up my organs. If I can't put up a robust argument for keeping them, they can have them.

Then we will have to contact you this way

[icetorch]

Yes, yes, hurry along now - we're waiting for your demise, er, I mean organs.

Be aware, though, you could be depriving someone of a meal.