Organ Donation

kitten_k

What are your views on organ donation? Are you willing to donate? Is there anything you wouldn't donate?

Do you think it should be an opt-in system or an opt-out one?

Also should a register be set up like in the UK.

I am all for organ donation and would donate everything. I feel it should be an opt in system with a live register.

IceFjoem

I gots an organs for ya!

IsMiseLisa

When I die, I'm more than happy to give my organs away.

Not like I'll need them.

Though I do find the idea of cornea transplants or anything to do with the eye a bit icky.

squod

I'm mostly knackered OP. Opt out systems would essentially mean getting bits from people like me.

NegativeCreep

You'd wanna be desperate to want my organs. Seriously f*cked.

MarkyMark22

kitten_k wrote: »

What are your views on organ donation? Are you willing to donate? Is there anything you wouldn't donate?

Do you think it should be an opt-in system or an opt-out one?

Also should a register be set up like in the UK.

I am all for organ donation and would donate everything. I feel it should be an opt in system with a live register.

I would like to donate an organ, being an atheist though I fear what it may do to my own health and lifespan. I haven't done major research so apologies if that is incorrect.

When I do due I will definitely donate my organs, however.

Fromthetrees

Church, bodily integrity, I talk to Jesus, that kinda thing.

elfy4eva

IsMiseLisa wrote: »

When I die, I'm more than happy to give my organs away.

Not like I'll need them.

Though I do find the idea of cornea transplants or anything to do with the eye a bit icky.

Totally agree, even the bit about the icky cornea's although I find myself justifying them going aswell, what use are they rotting in a wooden box

Mr. CooL ICE

I have my blood donor card in my wallet. Also have my multi organ donor box ticked on my Aviva card.

If I die unexpectedly, I hope someone finds some kind of use for them

darragh16

They're pretty useless when you're six feet under, so I'd have no problem giving them away.

dodderangler

I'd gladly donate but after all my years of smoking and drinking I wouldn't recommend anyone taking my organs

Ihatecuddles-old

THey can have whatever they want. Not much use to me when I'm 6ft under.

ITS_A_BADGER

Ive been thinking recently that i would like to be cremated and have my ashes planted with a tree sapling, i think that would be cool, proabably costs a ****load tho

LizT

IsMiseLisa wrote: »

When I die, I'm more than happy to give my organs away.

Not like I'll need them.

Though I do find the idea of cornea transplants or anything to do with the eye a bit icky.

I've heard this a lot and I don't understand it.

Kidney, liver, heart transplants etc are all "a bit icky" surely?

My view is take whatever is of use to anyone else if I'm ever in a situation like that, I won't need my organs when I'm six feet under.

MarkyMark22

If I donate my eyes when I die does that mean I'll be blind in heaven?

Seachmall

I'd happily donate a kidney to a stranger and donate bone marrow or anything to a friend and family member.

I think its stupid that anonymous kidney donations aren't allowed in Ireland, I think there's like 3 a year done in the UK (some relatively small number like that). May not seem like a lot but that's 3 people alive that may not have been otherwise. It's not like its particularly risky either and donors typically suffer less kidney problems than non-donors (primarily because you have to have above average kidney function to donate, and any issues that may arise get caught well in advance due to follow up tests).

I carry a donor card anyway, everyone should imo.

Lingua Franca

IsMiseLisa wrote: »

When I die, I'm more than happy to give my organs away.

Not like I'll need them.

Though I do find the idea of cornea transplants or anything to do with the eye a bit icky.

One of my friends needs a cornea transplant to keep her from going blind. I get that eyes are icky, but please don't even think about it. You won't care when you're dead.

I'm on the donation register for a few countries now. I always sign up. I've had a few family and friends die for want of a transplant.

The Big Red Button

I reckon it should be an opt-out system. It should be very easy and straightforward to opt-out, if you want to - but, if you don't opt-out, all of your organs are available for donation when you die.

Personally I'd be very much in favour of donating any/all of my organs. And I seriously do not understand why people find the notion of corneal transplants ickier than any other. I mean, I'm sure the idea of receiving corneas (or any organ) from someone who's now dead must seem a bit 'icky' to the recipient ... but when you think of the difference that it'll make to their life, I don't know how anyone would refuse. It's not like it'll affect you in the slightest when you're dead - it's not like you'll even know about it!

kitten_k

For the posters that feel like their organs would be no use, would you consider becoming an organ donor and leaving it up to the doctors to decide if your organs are suitable?

MarkyMark22

Correct me if I'm wrong (I probably am) but aren't organs useless if they die with the person? Lack of blood flow and Oxygen etc..

elfy4eva

LizT wrote: »

I've heard this a lot and I don't understand it.

Kidney, liver, heart transplants etc are all "a bit icky" surely?

My view is take whatever is of use to anyone else if I'm ever in a situation like that, I won't need my organs when I'm six feet under.

Ahh a lota people cringe at the thought of their eyes being touched.
Kidney and liver and heart we can deal with
cos we eat the animal equivalents of them.

gidget

Yep no problem donating my organs when i die. Wouldn't even hesitate to donate a kidney to a relative if needs be! Quite a humbling feeling knowing that when i die i also be helping to prolong someone else's life who is struggling to stay alive.

LizT

elfy4eva wrote: »

Ahh a lota people cringe at the thought of their eyes being touched.
Kidney and liver and heart we can deal with
cos we eat the animal equivalents of them.

I just don't see what difference it makes if you're donating other organs anyway? It could make a huge difference to a person's life.

kitten_k

MarkyMark22 wrote: »

Correct me if I'm wrong (I probably am) but aren't organs useless if they die with the person? Lack of blood flow and Oxegen etc..

Yea there is a time frame within which the organs need to be removed so if you die outside of hospital it may not be possible to be a donor

Where To

Hopefully someone will better care of mine than I have.

elfy4eva

LizT wrote: »

I just don't see what difference it makes if you're donating other organs anyway? It could make a huge difference to a person's life.

Oh I know and I totally agree. It is purely a case of
mind over matter. Something about eyeballs being
dissected gives people the heeby jeebies! Even me
kind of just typing that. :P

squod

kitten_k wrote: »

For the posters that feel like their organs would be no use, would you consider becoming an organ donor and leaving it up to the doctors to decide if your organs are suitable?

Interesting. I no longer give blood for example. Not that I have bad aids or anything. Seen a doctor in Jan. I had pneumonia again this year. Cut a long story short she's sending me off for tests because (as she says) ''there's probably something wrong with you''.

Many people are not suitable for organ donation is really all I'm saying.

kitten_k

squod wrote: »

Interesting. I no longer give blood for example. Not that I have bad aids or anything. Seen a doctor in Jan. I had pneumonia again this year. Cut a long story short she's sending me off for tests because (as she says) ''there's probably something wrong with you''.

Many people are not suitable for organ donation is really all I'm saying.

I agree that not everybody is suitable but my point is that it should be a doctor that decides that.

Pottler

My livers fecked-alcohol. My lungs are knackered-cigarettes. My eyes are worn out-overuse. My brains addled-stress. My mickeys in tatters-wear and tear. Anything else, they're welcome to. I may have a kidney or two worth harvesting, but if I ever wake up in a bath of ice-water to find them gone, I'm gonna be pissed. Which will further degrade my poor liver....

Lingua Franca

How's your face? They're doing face transplants now.

I was reading the other day that some guy got two donated arms. "I know it like the back of my hand" will never be in his vocabulary again.

meoklmrk91

It should be an opt out system, something has to change, there are too many people in this country waiting for life saving transplants and this isn't something that people like to think about. So this would force them to do that because of they really don't want to then they could opt out and for those that WOULD donate but die without ever having given permission countless lives will be saved and changed forever,

I get that the idea of it can be gross, I particularly agree with the eyes. But at the end of the day if I needed a corneal transplant to save my sight then would I really care how icky it is? No I wouldn't,

I won't need any of my body parts where I am going so as far as I concerned they can take what they want. I think it is, in comparison to being put in a box and dropped in a hole, a much nicer tribute to life, that people would be walking around alive, healthy because of me.

MarkyMark22

Would anybody become a full body donor?

The bodies exhibition can put me in their coach potato section..

Lingua Franca

MarkyMark22 wrote: »

Would anybody become a full body donor?

The bodies exhibition can put me in their coach potato section..

Even that wouldn't bother me at all, but I think it might bother my kids. If my remains can be put to good use then I'd prefer that but if not they're under instruction to get what's left down to urn size. But I suspect they might be irked at not knowing what's happening to my body.

MarkyMark22

Could the lack of organ donors be a religious thing?

Maybe people don't want to be kidneyless in heaven or think they'll be hovering over the doctor watching the dissection..

Seachmall

MarkyMark22 wrote: »

Would anybody become a full body donor?

The bodies exhibition can put me in their coach potato section..

I've advised my family that I want my body to go to science. They're not a big fan of the idea (they'd prefer to bury me) but understand. At the same time I haven't filled out any legal work to do it (I think you need to but I'm not sure).


Jesus, this is a depressing conversation.


Edit - You do need to fill out legal work. For anyone interested.

squod

kitten_k wrote: »

I agree that not everybody is suitable but my point is that it should be a doctor that decides that.

From my experience, I disagree. Would you buy a second hand car without test driving it? If the previous owner told you it was fairly wonky would you trust it for everyday use?

MarkyMark22

Lingua Franca wrote: »

Even that wouldn't bother me at all, but I think it might bother my kids. If my remains can be put to good use then I'd prefer that but if not they're under instruction to get what's left down to urn size. But I suspect they might be irked at not knowing what's happening to my body.

I did a quick google if the topic and came across a guy in another forum who's mother was a full body donator in America. He said he was kept informed for a few months of her whereabouts. And some of the receivers even got in touch with him..

Maybe different here, however.

The Big Red Button

elfy4eva wrote: »

Ahh a lota people cringe at the thought of their eyes being touched.
Kidney and liver and heart we can deal with
cos we eat the animal equivalents of them.

What if you told tomorrow that your corneas were diseased and you were going blind - but your sight could be saved by a corneal transplant. A relatively straight-forward procedure, that could be done immediately - as soon as a suitable donor was found. In the meantime, your sight would deteriorate rapidly. If a suitable donor wasn't found within a certain limited timeframe, a transplant would not be possible.

I'm sure you'd soon get over the ickiness and cringiness of your eyes being touched (and operated on), if it meant having your sight saved.

It just seems so wasteful and sad that patients are left waiting for suitable organs - and often die while still on the waiting list - when perfectly healthy donors are there.

If a person's organs are suitable for donation, chances are that they've died before their time, often unexpectedly. But, by allowing donation of your organs (and ensuring that your family are aware of your wishes), you may prevent the same happening to one or more other people.

Lingua Franca

MarkyMark22 wrote: »

Could the lack of organ donors be a religious thing?

Maybe people don't want to be kidneyless in heaven or think they'll be hovering over the doctor watching the dissection..

Only in small part. The fact is, most people are unsuitable to donate anyway due to their manner of death, and the distraught families of the few who are must give permission when they're in deep distress and despair. I couldn't blame devastated parents, for example, point blank refusing to even consider donating their child's organs.

elfy4eva

MarkyMark22 wrote: »

Would anybody become a full body donor?

The bodies exhibition can put me in their coach potato section..

Depends on who I get donated too, wudnt mind being the dissolved fella from Bodies showing all his blood vessels.

Don't think i'd opt to be a Learning cadaver though
All the 1st year surgeons wud be makin fun of me willy.

Miss Lockhart

I'd like to see an opt out system and relatives unable to overrule your wishes.

I'm willing to donate bone marrow now but I would only consider a kidney for a close friend or relative. Once I'm gone they can have what they like.

MarkyMark22

I've read that if the person dying is an organ donor they can/will keep them alive on a life support whilst contacting local people who are in need of an organ to come to the hospital.

I find that slightly strange, some guy said they kept his mother alive for a few days after a brain aneurysm.

MarkyMark22

Out of curiosity, can donating an organ whilst still fit and healthy be detrimental to your own health?

elfy4eva

atheists ate my baby wrote: »

What if you told tomorrow that your corneas were diseased and you were going blind - but your sight could be saved by a corneal transplant. A relatively straight-forward procedure, that could be done immediately - as soon as a suitable donor was found. In the meantime, your sight would deteriorate rapidly. If a suitable donor wasn't found within a certain limited timeframe, a transplant would not be possible.

I'm sure you'd soon get over the ickiness and cringiness of your eyes being touched (and operated on), if it meant having your sight saved.

It just seems so wasteful and sad that patients are left waiting for suitable organs - and often die while still on the waiting list - when perfectly healthy donors are there.

If a person's organs are suitable for donation, chances are that they've died before their time, often unexpectedly. But, by allowing donation of your organs (and ensuring that your family are aware of your wishes), you may prevent the same happening to one or more other people.

Again I totally agree you should read my subsequent post I was merely pointing out the reasoning as to why people in particular find it hard to opt for their corneas in relation to other organs. This is the way real people react when they see "Corneas" on their donation card.

You are of course entirely correct however in that people need these transplants and that we all in hindsight would have vastly different feelings were we the ones who needed it.

Seachmall

MarkyMark22 wrote: »

I've read that if the person dying is an organ donor they can/will keep them alive on a life support whilst contacting local people who are in need of an organ to come to the hospital.

I find that slightly strange, some guy said they kept his mother alive for a few days after a brain aneurysm.

You're alive in the medical sense but not alive in the true sense. You're brain dead, they just use a machine to help pump oxygenated blood around the body to stop your organs breaking down. (They probably "feed" you too to prevent breakdown as well.)

It's kind of like giving CPR to a corpse while shoving a big mac down it's throat.

MarkyMark22

Seachmall wrote: »

You're alive in the medical sense but not alive in the true sense. You're brain dead, they just use a machine to help pump oxygenated blood around the body to stop your organs breaking down. (They probably "feed" you too to prevent breakdown as well.)

It's kind of like giving CPR to a corpse while shoving a big mac down it's throat.

Haha, I meant I find it slightly weird if it was a loved one being kept "alive" for a few days afterward..

Gongoozler

Surely something that would help hugely in this regard would be if they were to take advantage of the possibility of transplanting the organs of late stage aborted fetuses. Apparently studies have shown that the organs of further-developed fetuses will very quickly grow to a functioning size when transplanted.

fussyonion

I used to think I didn't want anyone having any part of me.
If I was dead, then nobody else was going to benefit from my demise, but that was so selfish.

I also got a reality check when a family member almost died waiting for a transplant and I had to see her in a ward with her husband and children, basically waiting to die.

Fortunately, she got her transplant, but it made my think. Why was I objecting to donating my organs?

I would have absolutely no use for them when I died, so why shouldn't someone get my organs if it meant keeping them alive and living a long and healthy life with their family and friends?

Put yourself in the position of that mother/father/sister in hospital waiting for a transplant and basically preparing to DIE when someone's tick of a box on an organ donation form would easily end her/his suffering.

CollardGreens

Nobodies getting nothin, I'm not going to die ~ y'all go ahead and be my guest and die all you want too but nope, not me!

1ZRed

I'm definitely going to be an organ donor as me kicking the bucket could potentially mean that my organs would go on to save or improve the lives of many people. That alone would be reason enough for me.

I also would've really liked to donate blood regularly, but that's ruled out.

Sofiztikated

I'm not allowed to give blood, due to operations and blood transfusions that I've had.

I must get on the donor list, I've no real need for them after I die.

On a side note, I tried talking to herself a while ago about what I want done when I die, and she got really upset. I think it was the "Put me in the compost bin" that might have done it though.