Should organ donor cards be compulsory?

Rebelheart · 21-08-2009 04:53PM #1

Listening to the interview on Newstalk with Gareth Anderson's father talking about how his 19-year-old has been given 2 weeks to live if he doesn't receive a liver transplant, the thought came to me again that I have no organ donor card but would be happy to donate whatever was required so that somebody else could live. Given that I'd be dead, it would be a bit silly for such things to matter to me

Families are probably the worst people to decide whether organs should be donated, given that they are grieving and usually resent the question being asked just after they've found out that their loved one has died. They are often the last people who have the clarity of mind to decide such things. Even one refusal changes a life, and ultimately causes an earlier death.

So, should it be mandatory for everybody to be a donor? Or would a voluntary system be better, where, for example, the donor ticks a box on his/her driving licence application so when in a car accident emergency services can see it immediately. This information could be part of a national database, but obviously non-drivers wouldn't be on it.

One way of linking everybody in the state would be through the PPS number. Maybe some state department could ensure that every PPS holder either grants or refuses permission to donate their organs, and that this information is kept on a national database that is accessible to medical personnel?

The existing situation where you are meant to carry an easily forgotten 'donor card' is wholly inadequate. The current system seems to be costing lives and causing undue upset to grieving families.

m83 · 21-08-2009 04:54PM

No.

/thread

tbaymusicman · 21-08-2009 04:55PM

People have big issues about being complete when there burried!!i wouldn't mind do once they dont take my sexy eyes:D:D

Kernel · 21-08-2009 04:55PM

I also say no. I agree with the concept of organ donation, but it should be a choice. I'd like to think that the HSE doesn't own my eyes, lungs, heart etc. when I pop my clogs! I'd give them of course, but that's a little different.

IvySlayer · 21-08-2009 04:56PM

Yes they should be compulsory, if you die, your organs will be used to save other lives.

I like this for 3 reasons, one, my organs are useless underground being eaten by maggots, two, I will help someone live and three, part of me will live on.

flushje · 21-08-2009 04:57PM

m83 wrote: »

No.

/thread

Agree

partyatmygaff · 21-08-2009 04:57PM

No way in hell would I be tooken apart and used for spare parts like an old broken down car. Especially not by the HSE who will probably sell it for thousands.

sidneykidney · 21-08-2009 04:58PM

For fear of repeating myself i will just say this. Compulsory or not i think everyone should carry that card. I know from a personal level,it really is the gift of life

genericguy · 21-08-2009 04:59PM

they should be compulsory.

it really bugs me when people say "yes, but not my eyes." why the fcuk not?
and also, religious reasons shouldn't be considered as an argument against it, unless god or whatever malevolent fcuker people choose to pray to comes down from space and says so, with valid reasons, on the news.

Salvelinus · 21-08-2009 05:00PM

I think it should be opt out not opt in.

Milky Moo · 21-08-2009 05:03PM

I have a card also and I am pretty sure if they ran a more intensive ad campaign other people would be more likely to pick one up.

As it has been said by other posters what good are your organs in the ground when they could be saving somebody.

It BeeMee · 21-08-2009 05:04PM

If human cloning was allowed, we wouldn't be having this discussion.

Lux23 · 21-08-2009 05:04PM

Salvelinus wrote: »

I think it should be opt out not opt in.

That's exactly what I think. I really don't understand why people would refuse to donate their organs though, its not like you will need them after you die. Its just pure stupidty to be squeamish about it too.

pikachucheeks · 21-08-2009 05:04PM

While I fully support organ donation, I don't agree that it should be mandatory for everyone to be a donor.

A person's body is theirs, even when they die - it's their choice what they want to do with it.

Although, I think more should be done to express to people how neccessary and important donation is - it saves lives.

komodosp · 21-08-2009 05:04PM

I don't know about compulsory (though I wouldn't be against it!) but it definitely should be Opt-Out instead of the current Opt-In way of doing it. Too many people don't bother getting cards because they don't know how and couldn't be arsed finding out.

No way in hell would I be tooken apart and used for spare parts like an old broken down car.

Why the hell not? It's not like you need the parts...

There's no point in being sentimental about stuff like this. People's lives are at stake. Makes absolutely no difference to the people who are dead whether their organs are donated to someone else and do something productive or donated to the worms or burned to ash. They might as well be used to save someone's life.

it really bugs me when people say "yes, but not my eyes." why the fcuk not?

I agree completely! YOU'RE NOT ALIVE! You're not going to meet the person and feel wierd about them having your eyes. Besides, what makes your eyes unique is the shape of your eye-sockets, not the eyes themselves, they are just eyeballs!

jumpguy · 21-08-2009 05:06PM

Organ donation should be opt-out instead of opt-in. So, when a person is 18, they are automatically a organ donor, unless they choose to opt-out. This'd make it much more popular imo.

bleg · 21-08-2009 05:06PM

No, it's your body, do with it what you want.

Rebelheart · 21-08-2009 05:07PM

Salvelinus wrote: »

I think it should be opt out not opt in.

That's a good point. After all, the government recently allowed marketing companies to gain access to our details from the Census. We have the right to "opt out" from out details being given to marketeers

If they can do it for something as blatantly invasive as this, then they could surely do it for organ donation.

genericguy · 21-08-2009 05:07PM

bleg wrote: »

No, it's your body, do with it what you want.

how about if you aren't a donor you can't be a recipient?

Salvelinus · 21-08-2009 05:09PM

Rebelheart wrote: »

That's a good point. After all, the government recently allowed marketing companies to gain access to our details from the Census. We have the right to "opt out" from out details being given to marketeers

If they can do it for something as blatantly invasive as this, then they could surely do it for organ donation.

I think the UK had a discussion on it a couple years ago. I thnk it's a good idea, money is being spent on getting people to donate, just use the same money to make people aware that they have to opt out if they don't want to donate. Better people having organs than worms.

pikachucheeks · 21-08-2009 05:09PM

genericguy wrote: »

how about if you aren't a donor you can't be a recipient?

That's an interesting concept, actually!

partyatmygaff · 21-08-2009 05:09PM

In the end its completely against freedom of choice to be compulsory or opt-out.

Its your body and your decision.

Pompey Magnus · 21-08-2009 05:09PM

I have a donor card, I will have no use for my organs after I die, except my eyes, I don't want to risk being a blind ghost.

Smellyirishman · 21-08-2009 05:11PM

Mandatory; No.
Opt-Out; Yes.

sidneykidney · 21-08-2009 05:13PM

Charco wrote: »

I have a donor card, I will have no use for my organs after I die, except my eyes, I don't want to risk being a blind ghost.

I really dont get the fact that people wont donate their eyes,no part of you is useful when your gone.

genericguy · 21-08-2009 05:13PM

Charco wrote: »

I have a donor card, I will have no use for my organs after I die, except my eyes, I don't want to risk being a blind ghost.

so you need eyes, but don't need any other organs?

Salvelinus · 21-08-2009 05:13PM

partyatmygaff wrote: »

In the end its completely against freedom of choice to be compulsory or opt-out.

Its your body and your decision.

No you have a choice to opt out. It's your body you decide you want to feed worms more with it so you decide to opt out. Completely against compulsory.

sidneykidney · 21-08-2009 05:15PM

pikachucheeks wrote: »

That's an interesting concept, actually!

I really dont think this is viable i was 18 when i took ill at that age the last thing on my mind was carrying a card. I supppose you could say "you only realise these things when your the one in need" and yes in my case thats true,but denying someone a lifesaving transplant because they arent a willing donor card carrier....no not at all viable.

Pompey Magnus · 21-08-2009 05:16PM

genericguy wrote: »

so you need eyes, but don't need any other organs?

Yeah, well ghosts don't eat or breathe or anything like that so most of the organs won't be needed. I'd hate to spend forever with my eyes though.

humanji · 21-08-2009 05:16PM

I think it should be mandatory and that there should be an elite squad formed that skulk the streets at night, capturing the unweary and harvesting their organs. It'll add a bit of excitment to life.

Overheal · 21-08-2009 05:20PM

It should remain optional. I'd be a little sickened if the government claimed lordship of my organs out of hand, you know? They get enough from me. If I wanna die with my heart and lungs, that should be my right. Wanting to offer them up to save someone else, that should still remain a choice. It's a very personal thing in my humble opinion. I, and only I, should be in charge of what happens with my Heart and Kidneys.

Oh, and btw:

Should organ donor cards be compulsory?

Should organ donation be mandatory 99 votes

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