Should family's have a say in organ donation?

dillo2k10

I was just looking at rte news and someone (I think it was he minister for health) was talking about new legislation that they plan to bring in about organ donation.
But at the end he said that there would be no question of the organs being donated if the deceased persons family is against it, even if the deceased opted to be a doner!

Do you think that family's should have a say in this? Or should it be Down to the individual?

I personally think that the family should have no say in it! And I don't see why they should.

studentforever

I completely agree, it's ludicrous the way in which organ donation is run. It should be a system where in the event of brain death and so on, if the organs are viable they can go to help people. instead of organ donor cards giving permission for organ donation, it should be changed that if you don't consent to donation you carry a card and make your family aware of your wishes. I personally feel that other than religious beliefs, there is no reason not to donate organs, aside from the obvious discomfort felt by the family afterwards who can at least be consoled by the fact that even in death you have helped someone.

I have made every member of my family aware that I would want my organs donated, sure I can't take them with me. :rolleyes: I can understand a family's involvement and reluctance because the person is still technically 'alive' on life support, but with a brain stem death or head injury to the extent that the person they love is, for all intents and purposes gone, education is the only way.

Anyway, rant over.

locum-motion

Healthy, usable organs should always be used, IMO.
I think that not only should the family not have any say, but the person themselves shouldn't either (after all, they'll be dead and won't need them!)
And as for religious objections? Religion, schmeligion!

CarrickMcJoe

Was he a big fat guy with a beard? Yes thats our Minister for Health,Dr, Reilly, he replaced the big fat woman(with a beard).

Regarding the organs, im with the previous poster, the medical team should be able to take the organs as this would save a lot of time and pain on the family making such a decision.

Theres too many people suffering with CF and heart disease etc, to think that the organ that will give them a better life is about to be buried in the ground.

seantorious

Its amazing how such a vital component of healthcare is controlled by feelings and emotions. More people have to die just because it is too difficult to oppose those already grieving.

Alun

Personally I'd be in favour of presumed consent, with the option to opt-out if it worries you that much. However, if you do that then you should automatically lose any right to donated organs yourself.

If it has to stay as it is, with organ donor cards, then so be it, but if the donor has given consent then that should be it, and nobody else should have any say in the matter, however upset they may be. I've told all my relatives that if they so much as delay the removal of my organs if they are needed by someone, I'll come back and haunt them

studentforever

Religion schmaligion is right, I'm not religious in the slightest but I do respect the beliefs of others, even if I think it's shockingly shortsighted. but rather than embarking on a region vs science/common sense debate I'll move on. The emotional side of it I can completely understand as my father died when I was younger, sudden heart attack and he was gone before any major efforts could be made. If it had been an accident or something which could have allowed for organ donation, myself and my family would have allowed it. I find it a nice though that through organ donation, a little part of the person you loved lives on.
Another relative has end stage renal failure and is awaiting a transplant, numerous complications from this, has been on dialysis for 3 years. In all that time, I know of only one person who regularly attends the same dialysis slot as him who has received a transplant. If I ever found myself in the position where I was badly burned, suffered some form of organ failure or sight degeneration, I would hope that other people had the courage to donate. I would love a study or report compiled on the number of families who have vetoed a relatives expressed wishes for donation (through a donor card). If people put themselves in the position that they themselves needed a transplant of some sort, I would bet the numbers would change drastically....

_AVALANCHE_

China arrests after kidney sold for iPad

Five people have been arrested in southern China after a teenager sold his kidney so he could buy an iPhone and iPad, state media have reported.

Those detained include the surgeon who removed the kidney from the boy in April last year.

State-run Xinhua news agency says the group received around $35,000 (£22,000) for the transplant.

The student is said to be suffering renal failure, according to prosecutors in Hunan province quoted by Xinhua.

Only identified by his surname Wang, he is said to have received about $3,000 for his kidney.

The 17-year-old was reportedly recruited for the illegal trade through an online chatroom.
Organ shortage

The case was discovered when his mother noticed the new gadgets; when asked where he got the money, he admitted selling a kidney.

The group behind the operation have been charged with causing intentional injury and illegal organ trading.

While Apple iPhones and iPads are very popular in China, they are priced beyond the reach of many urban workers.

And there is a constant shortage of organ donors.

Official figures from the health ministry show that about 1.5 million people need transplants, but only 10,000 are performed annually.

Executed prisoners have been often used as a source of organs, but last month China vowed to phase this out over the next five years.

The Big Red Button

I'd be very much in favour of an opt-out system, whereby in cases where organ donation is possible, it should be done, unless the person carries a card stating that it's against their wishes to have this done.

However, in cases of those below the age of consent, where children die young, I think it should be entirely up to the parents what they want to do.

Personally, I hate the fact that, although I'm in my twenties and carry a donor card and have made my family aware of my wishes, I know that, if I died, my parents wouldn't be a bit happy about my organs being donated - despite me discussing it with them on various occasions. And they'd probably fight it. It's my body, it should be my choice - but it's not.

opinion guy

_AVALANCHE_ wrote: »

China arrests after kidney sold for iPad

6th of April wants its story back !!

_AVALANCHE_

opinion guy wrote: »

6th of April wants its story back !!

:pac:



get it?:D

eyescreamcone

I think the problem at the moment is that after you die your body forms part of the estate so your next of kin has the say in what happens to it.

I think that there should be an opt out system where those who register as opt-outers do not qualify for organ/blood donations.

People are still afraid that if you are a donor that the doctors will not do everything to save you when you are alive, and will start harvesting the organs before you are cold (or even still alive).