Would you donate your organs?

Seachmall

From reading through Chuck Stone's thread on Selling Kidneys I got thinking about the value of kidneys.

As mentioned in that thread the risks of donating a kidney are minimal while the waiting list for people in need of a kidney are long.

In essence, right now you have an organ that you don't need, and most likely won't need, while somebody out there is dying because they are unable to get one.

So I ask; would you donate one of your kidneys?

Not necessarily to a friend or family member but to a stranger. To someone who you may never actually meet.

Personally, I think I would. In fact I think it's something I'll look into. I'm not sure if I'd qualify as a donor (I've had liver issues due to bad lifestyle choices, although they're most likely reversed at this stage) but I can't justify not at least looking into it.

Would you look into it? Will you?

lividduck

No.

AngryBollix

I like my kidneys

cynder

My kidney is on hold for my kids if they need it.

When I die they can take all my organs give it to who ever needs it, but not my skin. Then they can burn me to a cinder.

Ficheall

Friends or family, sure.
Anyone else, no.

Similarly, I wouldn't donate my disposable income to the needy.

I Heart Internet

Maybe this was dealt with on the other thread - but it might be good if - if I donated the kidney and then happened to need one in like 25 years time, I would go to the top of the transplant waiting list as i had previously given one of my good ones away?

Ficheall

Do you get to pick who you donate your kidney to?
Could you see "their files" and ask them questions about their lives to ascertain who was the better person and then play God by saving the life of one and leaving the other to their fate? How do you choose which person to condemn to death?

Nothingbetter2d

grindelwald wrote: »

but not my skin. Then they can burn me to a cinder.

ginger fellow are ya?

My name is URL

Nah, I need mine for bingin'

biko

http://paulstott.typepad.com/photos/one/antifa_donor_card.jpg

Seachmall

I Heart Internet wrote: »

Maybe this was dealt with on the other thread - but it might be good if - if I donated the kidney and then happened to need one in like 25 years time, I would go to the top of the transplant waiting list as i had previously given one of my good ones away?

I don't think it would/does work that way.

It's a risk you take.

Plus, it would negate the altruistic act of donating a kidney. It's like saying "I'd feed the poor, as long as I didn't have to actually do anything".

Ficheall wrote:

Do you get to pick who you donate your kidney to?
Could you see "their files" and ask them questions about their lives to ascertain who was the better person and then play God by saving the life of one and leaving the other to their fate? How do you choose which person to condemn to death?

I suspect whoever is on top of the list gets the kidney, but if you requested a specific person they could give it to them. I don't think they'd let you browse through people's files to decide for yourself

Ficheall

Seachmall wrote: »

I don't think they'd let you browse through people's files to decide for yourself

Then what's the point?

Seachmall

Ficheall wrote: »

Then what's the point?

...to save a life...?

I Heart Internet

Seachmall wrote: »

I don't think it would/does work that way.

It's a risk you take.

Plus, it would negate the altruistic act of donating a kidney. It's like saying "I'd feed the poor, as long as I didn't have to actually do anything".

Well it would still be a very alturistic thing to do - surgery, organ donation for someone you never met.
Assuming there's a very good chance those who donate will never have any negative impacts and never need another kidney, then surely the numbers would stack up well. Say, if 1,500 people donated their spare kidney into the system (they were matched to recipients, etc) and say, 2 of them in a few years time got some unrelated kidney disease and needed a transplant then the numbers would still be astoundingly positive.

It doesn't remove the alturistic nature - just says to the donor - "look you're doing a great thing - we won't let you hanging if you're stuck because of it".

jimthemental

I probably would be up for donating/selling on the black market but I would hold on to it in case I had a child who needed one. My cousin had to have two transplants, (first was rejected after a while) so there is a chance it would be needed.

MagicSean

Seachmall wrote: »

...to save a life...?

But who's life? Personally I wouldn't have wanted my liver to go to some drunk like George Best but to someone who would appreciate the second chance.

cynder

As I'm aware in the UK they have a swap scheme.

If 2 people need a kidney and no family member is a match they look for a match on the system.

Say sister of kidney patient A matches kidney patient B and kidney patient b's sister Matches kidney patient a . They swap.

I would also agree to this if I wasn't a match for my child.

seamus

Close friends and family, sure.

Anyone else can have it when I'm bloody well finished with it.

Seachmall

I Heart Internet wrote: »

Well it would still be a very alturistic thing to do - surgery, organ donation for someone you never met.
Assuming there's a very good chance those who donate will never have any negative impacts and never need another kidney, then surely the numbers would stack up well. Say, if 1,500 people donated their spare kidney into the system (they were matched to recipients, etc) and say, 2 of them in a few years time got some unrelated kidney disease and needed a transplant then the numbers would still be astoundingly positive.

It doesn't remove the alturistic nature - just says to the donor - "look you're doing a great thing - we won't let you hanging if you're stuck because of it".

I'm not suggesting it wouldn't be a good idea but doing it while maintaining a "get out of jail free card" does, at least, lessen the altruism of it.

Firefighters are often highly regarded for their courage and selflessness as they take a risk when entering a burning building. If that risk was removed it would just be another job.

MagicSean wrote: »

But who's life? Personally I wouldn't have wanted my liver to go to some drunk like George Best but to someone who would appreciate the second chance.

Fair point.

Lets say it's for someone who at no fault of their own is in need of a kidney. So maybe you can specify it not to go to alcoholics or drug users.

Temptamperu

Sure, anyone can partake in my organs. Its a tempamperu free for all.

Stinicker

I was cleaning through an old drawer today and found a Organ Donor Card from the Irish Kidney Association, I must have picked it up on the chemist or something. Anyway I signed the back of it and put in my wallet should the worst ever happen to me.

It put me thinking and I really would have no problem donating all my organs should I ever get killed or die suddenly. I wonder does this card give paramedics and doctors the right to donate my organs or do my next of kin have to be present, I am going to get my father to sign the card today as he is my current next of kin as I am not too popular with the ladies at the moment :rolleyes:. I am not familiar with the whole way it works but would definitely donate my organs after thinking about it.

So do you carry an organ donor card or would you donate your organs?

Mr Magners

I think organ donation should be opt-out not opt-in, with people having to declare they are not willing to donate.

Personally I would like all of my organs used where possible

fatmammycat

I carry a card, everyone in the family knows my wish. If I'm done for perhaps my organs can save some other family a loved one.

Phill Ewinn

I've been trying to put me organ in as many different people as possible.

ejmaztec

I've only got a guitar, and I'm keeping it.

mikemac1

Stinicker wrote: »

I wonder does this card give paramedics and doctors the right to donate my organs or do my next of kin have to be present, I am going to get my father to sign the card today as he is my current next of kin

The card is worthless on its own

If you are ever in that situation the doctors will be asking your Dad as next of kin that you've discussed it with him and for confirmation to go ahead

Mint Sauce

Everything apart from my eyes.

Love2love

Myself and all my family will donate whatever organs we can. Definately agree for the opt-out option.
My uncle donated his body to science - it was a bit strange going to the wake with no body to mourn over. Got the body back about a year later so that we could hold a proper funeral.

Sky King

Yeah. What's the point in burying good organs? Help yourselves!

Coriolanus

The Book of the Dead teaches us that you can't get into the afterlife without them neatly packed in ceramic jars around your body, so if that's good enough for Tut, its good enough for me.

For Forks Sake

If they can find any of my organs are actually still functioning whan I'm done with them, then they're more than welcome to them

efb

Whatever they want!

IvyTheTerrible

Absolutely. My family also know that I want to, so hopefully they will sign on the dotted line.

My body is going to be no use to me, I would like to be useful to someone else.

bleg

Carrying an organ donor card means nothing. Discuss your wishes with your next of kin.

omerin

Yes, ticked the boxes in drivers licence

token101

Mr Magners wrote: »

I think organ donation should be opt-out not opt-in, with people having to declare they are not willing to donate.

Personally I would like all of my organs used where possible

+1

I'm not even sure you should be able to opt out really. I know there are religious reasons, but I think it's an incredibly selfish thing to want to keep something you have absolutely no use for and that somebody else needs to live. I'm sure God will understand you were only trying to help.

I'd give my body to medical science. Maybe you'll end up training some doctor who ends up curing cancer or something. Wouldn't be a bad legacy

EarlERizer

I've a crappy old Bontempi that I got years ago as a kid, dont think it works anymore but I'd donate it no probs.

EddyC15

Chop me up, take whatever you want, do freaky experiments on the rest of me.

I'll be dead, it'll make no difference to me.

GalwayKiefer

Yes, both my partner and my parents know that I want anything that can be used to be donated.

Captain Morgan Freeman

I already donated my organs to the church years ago. No one else will be getting them without a fight.

Chuck Stone

I want to keep me eyes just in case I need them in an afterlife.

token101

Chuck Stone wrote: »

I want to keep me eyes just in case I need them in an afterlife.

You can rent them off St. Peter. If you can't afford them, there's always St. Vincent de Paul.

Chuck Stone

token101 wrote: »

You can rent them off St. Peter. If you can't afford them, there's always St. Vincent de Paul.

I didn't know that.

They can have 'em so.

I always fancied green eyes anyway.

davet82

Would you donate your organs?

hmmm... i need them now so no

biko

Merged with a recent thread on the same topic.

barleybooley

irish-stew wrote: »

Everything apart from my eyes.

I don't get the eyes thing, why not?

Everything can go when I die. As for a kidney now, I'd only donate to really close friends or family.

saa

I probably wouldn't donate while I'm alive, I hope I never need surgery as it would be risky with my body taking so long to repair and clotting and come to think of it I'm not even allowed to give blood here so I'm not sure if they would take my organs,

anywho when I die I'm happy for any organs or cells to be taken to save someones life as soon as I pass away but I wouldn't like the doctors to know that before I die incase they don't fight for me [paranoia I know]

I never thought it would bother me what happens to my body after I die but I do feel like I wouldn't want anyone taking anything from my face as long as I'd look normal from the shoulders up that's fine, I can do without my hands and legs in my coffin.

wandatowell

I will donate everything except my eyes,

cynder

wandatowell wrote: »

I will donate everything except my eyes,

They dont take your eyes just the skin off your eyes, the cornea, its a very thin. I was like you until i found they dont take the eye its self.

I do however opt against them taking my skin, thats to burn with me...

boobar

Yes, I will donate all organs....

But only when I die. Must be dead first.

My name is URL

boobar wrote: »

Yes, I will donate all organs....

But only when I die. Must be dead first.

You'd be doing well to not be dead at that stage