Donating Organs

zig

Just wondering what are your thoughts on being an organ donor. Following on from legislative proposals by James Reilly to introduce an opt out system where instead of becoming a donor you must opt to not be one.
Personally im all for it.
http://www.thejournal.ie/minister-for-health-to-propose-new-opt-out-system-for-organ-donation-2011-03/

OutlawPete

I'm all for the 'opt out' policy being brought in anyway.

Guill

Why would you not be an organ donor????

Plazaman

I carry an Organ Donor card anyway so I think its a great idea (they'll be no good to me when I croak although the liver mightn't be the best choice to transplant though - damn you Mr Daniels and your tasty whiskey). Even though it makes sense and certainly would give people longing for life, life, sit back and watch the furore from various quarters.

amacachi

Opting in would probably more than meet demand if it actually counted for something, the trouble is that none of us can actually make up our minds as to what would happen if we died, it goes down to the family, hence why I don't carry a card.

Wolfe Tone

Personally I don't want to be an organ donor but an opt out system is a good idea.

starviewadams

Always carry my card on me,they can take whatever they like from me when I kick the bucket,no use to me then anyways!

Oranage2

Whats stopping someone that needs a kidney just going around killing a few people so they get the organ? this could see murder cases increase

zig

Oranage2 wrote: »

Whats stopping someone that needs a kidney just going around killing a few people so they get the organ? this could see murder cases increase

the fact that there would be so many organs available

amacachi

starviewadams wrote: »

Always carry my card on me,they can take whatever they like from me when I kick the bucket,no use to me then anyways!

You know that card means nothing and it'll up to your last of kin as to what will happen to your organs?

pinkyponk2

Oranage2 wrote: »

Whats stopping someone that needs a kidney just going around killing a few people so they get the organ? this could see murder cases increase

After the donor dies they need to be artificially kept alive to keep the blood circulating so the organs can be used for transplant so it would need to be a murderer with a life support machine!!!

Guill

Oranage2 wrote: »

Whats stopping someone that needs a kidney just going around killing a few people so they get the organ? this could see murder cases increase

Maybe the fact that the opt out program will reduce waiting list dramatically??

Oranage2

I agree with it - I even have the organ doner box ticked on my driving licence i was just wondering

starbelgrade

I don't think the answer to this question is an easy one. It's certainly not black & white.

On one hand, while an opt-out system seems on the surface to be a morally right & humane one, in practice, there are more things that need to be considered.

The majority of organ donations come from people who are involved in car accidents as the organs of old & sick people are usually no good for transplanting. The UK which has an opt-in system has more donations per head of capita than Sweden, which has an opt-out system, simply because they have more road deaths per annum.

One way the UK continually increases potential donors is through awareness campaigns, which often target new driving licence applicants - which although slightly morose - is a key target market & it works.

Another factor that needs to be added into the equation is that doctors often rely on close family for medical history of patients - and this can be very important in deciding if a person is suitable for donations. In these cases, the input & consent of the family is crucial.

And there is also the need to consider practicalities, such as the number of intensive care beds and transplant surgeons that are available.

But it's definitely an issue deserved of intense public debate as it's an important one considering the number of people on waiting lists for transplants every year.

Duggy747

I'd just be happy if they didn't take my organs while I was still alive. Other than that they can have a field day.

Though I can't promise that there won't be mutations or monsterism.

Joey the lips

They can have what ever they want of me. Once they leave my wife my knob. I promised her a hard one some day and that will be the day

amacachi

starbelgrade wrote: »

I don't think the answer to this question is an easy one. It's certainly not black & white.

On one hand, while an opt-out system seems on the surface to be a morally right & humane one, in practice, there are more things that need to be considered.

The majority of organ donations come from people who are involved in car accidents as the organs of old & sick people are usually no good for transplanting. The UK which has an opt-in system has more donations per head of capita than Sweden, which has an opt-out system, simply because they have more road deaths per annum.

One way the UK continually increases potential donors is through awareness campaigns, which often target new driving licence applicants - which although slightly morose - is a key target market & it works.

Another factor that needs to be added into the equation is that doctors often rely on close family for medical history of patients - and this can be very important in deciding if a person is suitable for donations. In these cases, the input & consent of the family is crucial.

And there is also the need to consider practicalities, such as the number of intensive care beds and transplant surgeons that are available.

But it's definitely an issue deserved of intense public debate as it's an important one considering the number of people on waiting lists for transplants every year.

I actually agree, I don't like the idea of an opt-out system. TBH if they'd just try and have an actual opt-in system (since we haven't got one) I'd then see what I thought of an opt-out system.

Cookie_Monster

amacachi wrote: »

Opting in would probably more than meet demand if it actually counted for something, the trouble is that none of us can actually make up our minds as to what would happen if we died, it goes down to the family, hence why I don't carry a card.

that provision should be banned, with sole discretion to the individual (either way). If they do not make a choice before death than cannot be used. If law is changed to opt out and they do not before death then should be allowed to use organ s regardless of what family say.

amacachi

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

that provision should be banned, with sole discretion to the individual (either way). If they do not make a choice before death than cannot be used. If law is changed to opt out and they do not before death then should be allowed to use organ s regardless of what family say.

Like I said, I'd imagine that would probably meet demand without the state commandeering every person's dead body. :pac:

Mint Sauce

Take it all barr my eyes.

genie

I can't donate blood because I've lived in the UK during the 1980s, so what is the position regarding donating organs if my blood isn't wanted?

KERSPLAT!

irish-stew wrote: »

Take it all barr my eyes.

Im the same, not sure why but they are the one part that i would not donate

Azureus

^ Im also the same, mainly cuz my mother made me promise not to donate them for some reason. Portal to the soul or some malarky.

My eyes dont work so good anyway so they wouldnt want em

ScumLord

I'm all for opt out, I'm sick of filling out that card over and over again only for it to go missing the next day.

starbelgrade wrote: »

The majority of organ donations come from people who are involved in car accidents as the organs of old & sick people are usually no good for transplanting. The UK which has an opt-in system has more donations per head of capita than Sweden, which has an opt-out system, simply because they have more road deaths per annum.

They do? I had always heard Britain had the safest roads in Europe. You can't get away from the gaze of the fuzz over there.

http://www.abd.org.uk/safest_roads.htm

namoosh

The way I look at it if your would to accept a donor organ you should be prepared to donate yourself. Its a hard decision for the next of kin looking at someone who is clinically dead but being maintained on a life support system, living and breathing.

Should the decision be left to the doctors? I'm thinking of all the organs they secretly harvested from dead babies, a lot of them they took because they could not because they needed them.

namoosh

I'm for opt in.

candy-gal1

Never, I dont carry an organ donor card and wouldnt.
Unless my organs are going to a family member of mine or someone important to me and its said to me beforehand, thats fine. But other than that no.

starbelgrade

My own personal opinion on this is that if a person is killed & they are able to donate organs, then there should be a system in place that ensures that the family members / next of kin are always asked what their wishes are regarding donating.

I don't think the dead person should really have a say in it. For one, they are dead & their opinion is largely irrelevant, and secondly, if they did have a strong viewpoint on the matter, it would be up to their next of kin to express that as they see fit.

After all, the only people that are affected by a person's death or their donating of organs, are the ones who are left behind.

Some people don't want to donate organs, some would donate all except the eyes... however, regardless of that, whatever is put into a box & into the ground is gonna be eaten by worms anyway, so wouldn't they be better put to a better use than that?

CD.

candy-gal1 wrote: »

Never, I dont carry an organ donor card and wouldnt.
Unless my organs are going to a family member of mine or someone important to me and its said to me beforehand, thats fine. But other than that no.

why?
you're dead, what do you need them for?

i am an organ donor, have been since i was eleven and i have made it clear to my family that should i die, my organs are to be donated if they can.
anything and everything is up for grabs.
i'm dead, it won't hurt and i won't need them.

i think an opt out system would be better.

arybvtcw0eolkf

I like the system in Israel whereby if your will to be a donor you get preferential medical care to keep you & your organs healthy and alive as long as possible.

strobe

amacachi wrote: »

Opting in would probably more than meet demand if it actually counted for something, the trouble is that none of us can actually make up our minds as to what would happen if we died, it goes down to the family, hence why I don't carry a card.

Do you not think your next of kin would be more likely to give their permission for your organs to be donated if you had a card on you though? It would be your absolutely last request.

If they were in favour of organ donation and you had a card they would definitely give permission.

If they were against organ donation and you had a card they still might give permission as they would want to honour your wishes.

If they were in favour of organ donation and you didn't have a card they might not give permission as they mightn't know your wishes and wouldn't want to do something you would be opposed to.

If they were against organ donation and you didn't have a card they almost certainly wouldn't give permission.

So it's worth having one. Increases the chances they will agree.

123balltv

No cause I want to be reincarnated the whole body has to go with me

unfortunately a lot of my family members could'nt donate cause of cancer, heart disease etc

amacachi

strobe wrote: »

Do you not think your next of kin would be more likely to give their permission for your organs to be donated if you had a card on you though? It would be your absolutely last request.

If they were in favour of organ donation and you had a card they would definitely give permission.

If they were against organ donation and you had a card they still might give permission as they would want to honour your wishes.

If they were in favour of organ donation and you didn't have a card they might not give permission as they mightn't know your wishes and wouldn't want to do something you would be opposed to.

If they were against organ donation and you didn't have a card they almost certainly wouldn't give permission.

So it's worth having one. Increases the chances they will agree.

People are idiots and I don't think their rationality would increase in the hour or two after what would probably be a pretty sudden death of a quite young person.
I'd like to see statistics of the number of card carriers who do and don't end up donating. My family know what I would want, I don't need a card. Thankfully most of my family are in the same boat as me, if you're dead you don't need it.

Dozen Wicked Words

Oranage2 wrote: »

Whats stopping someone that needs a kidney just going around killing a few people so they get the organ? this could see murder cases increase

Dr Sloan would NEVER allow it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sC8yn-E7QdA

Or

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0559202/plotsummary

Wile E. Coyote

candy-gal1 wrote: »

Never, I dont carry an organ donor card and wouldnt.
Unless my organs are going to a family member of mine or someone important to me and its said to me beforehand, thats fine. But other than that no.

Would you accept an organ if you were dying?

Snake Pliisken

Take everything, once Im properly dead and you've done everything you could to save me...




I find it really hard not to listen to the little conspiracy theorist voice telling me the paramedics won't try as hard to save me if they get some prime, sexy organs out of me should I die.

Gyalist

Oranage2 wrote: »

I agree with it - I even have the organ doner box ticked on my driving licence i was just wondering

I doubt that there would be any demand for a kebab made from your internal organs.

TanG411

The problem with organ donation is the strict precautions taken - which I suppose aren't a bad thing anyway. Wouldn't want dirty organs going into someone.

- You must die in a hospital. Not on the way to hospital, not on the side of a road. (At least that's what the organ donor leaflet said). I imagine a good percentage of deaths occur before reaching a hospital.

I think they should put in a system... A very strict system with maybe a 2/3 year lag where if you want to be top of the list in the future, you become a donor. Otherwise you're put bottom of the list in priority.

I don't see even one possible rebuke to that statement.

Freddie59

OutlawPete wrote: »

I'm all for the 'opt out' policy being brought in anyway.

100% against. It's brow-beating people into it. It should be a person's own choice.

Dean820

I hear they let you die easier if you have a donor card. Probably primary school kid talk.

Pace2008

Freddie59 wrote: »

100% against. It's brow-beating people into it.

If it gets more donors (and I'm not saying it certainly will), so ****ing what? What is this, 21st century Europe or Ancient Egypt?

CathyMoran

I can not donate as I was diagnosed as a type 1 diabetic at the age of 10, suggesting that those who agree to donate would get priority over organs does cause me some concern. Having said that I have no problem with an opt out system in general as the lack of organs is not good.

Random

i think organ donation should be mandatory. i don't see any good reason why perfectly useful organs get buried underground when they could help save a life. hell, even if they save the life of a murderer so that he can suffer in jail that little bit longer.

Gyalist

Opt in. A person's body is not the property of the state or the medical profession and it is up to them to decide.

While it is regrettable and even distressing that there are people waiting for transplants, no one has a right to someone else's organs.

Organ donations don't save lives, they merely delay death.

donutface

Freddie59 wrote: »

100% against. It's brow-beating people into it. It should be a person's own choice.

I don't understand, you will have as much of a choice with an opt out system as you do with an opt in system?

Gyalist

donutface wrote: »

I don't understand, you will have as much of a choice with an opt out system as you do with an opt in system?

No you don't. An opt-out system presumes consent while an opt-in system requires explicit permission.

donutface

The best way would be only to allow organ donors to receive transplants. Make it all an exclusive club

Gyalist

donutface wrote: »

The best way would be only to allow organ donors to receive transplants. Make it all an exclusive club

LOL. Are you sure that you've thought that idea through carefully?

CD.

if your so against someone benefitting from your organs after you die, or you cannot for religious/health reasons, opting out is just as easy as opting in.

if it was changed, people would be aware of the change, those who have no problem donating but never got a card won't opt out, those who do not want or cannot give organs can opt out if they choose.

donutface

Gyalist wrote: »

LOL. Are you sure that you've thought that idea through carefully?

It would encourage everyone else to think of their stance on it carefully