Organ Donation

meditraitor · 09-04-2010 10:33AM #1

A bit morbid for AH but Im looking for Joe soaps answer

Would paying/contributing for the funeral of a dead person who is used for organ donation after death increase the chance of people carrying an organ donor card.

Funerals are fecking expensive and a lot of people would like to take a bit of the load of their relatives if they died.....

If your heart,lung liver etc gets used to save a life then you get a grant from the government towards the funeral.....

Stupid idea maybe but there ye go, anyone else think it might persuade a few thousand more people to carry the card?

MaybeLogic · 09-04-2010 10:34AM

Make organ donation opt-out, not opt-in, as suggested in the book 'Nudge'.
Simple commonsense solution, beyond the powers that be.

meditraitor · 09-04-2010 10:36AM

MaybeLogic wrote: »

Make it opt out, not opt in, as suggested in the book 'Nudge'.
Simple commonsense solution, beyond the powers that be.

Its the best solution all right,,,, but Im sure there is a PC group out there that would fight it (be common sense and all)

Dave! · 09-04-2010 10:36AM

Stupid idea I'm afraid

But keep the ideas coming, the more people carrying cards the better!

I mean, err....Get away from my organs scumbag ! This is borderline fascism ! It's my body and I'll do what I want with it !

Fuhrer · 09-04-2010 10:36AM

"Do you honestly believe that if a paramedic finds that card on you in an accident, he's going to try and save your life? Bull****, he's looking for parts, man!"

IvyTheTerrible · 09-04-2010 10:37AM

I think it's very very important to educate everyone on this,and to get families to discuss it together. Cos it doesn't matter if you carry an organ donor card, if your next of kin doesn't agree, then your organs can't be taken. It's the next of kin that gives consent.

meditraitor · 09-04-2010 10:37AM

Dave! wrote: »

Stupid idea I'm afraid

But keep the ideas coming, the more people carrying cards the better!

Get away from my organs scumbag ! This is borderline fascism ! It's my body and I'll do what I want with it !

Thought so, but its a slow news day on boards....... mixing it up with silly

meditraitor · 09-04-2010 10:38AM

IvyTheTerrible wrote: »

I think it's very very important to educate everyone on this,and to get families to discuss it together. Cos it doesn't matter if you carry an organ donor card, if your next of kin doesn't agree, then your organs can't be taken. It's the next of kin that gives consent.

This is a facking disgrace, if my ma or misses refused any medic use of my organs after death I would haunt them .........

Dave! · 09-04-2010 10:39AM

Fuhrer wrote: »

"Do you honestly believe that if a paramedic finds that card on you in an accident, he's going to try and save your life? Bull****, he's looking for parts, man!"

Hero

George Carlin, I mean

twinQuins · 09-04-2010 10:40AM

meditraitor wrote: »

Its the best solution all right,,,, but Im sure there is a PC group out there that would fight it (be common sense and all)

Why do certain people continue to use "PC" to mean "things I don't like/agree with"?

IvyTheTerrible · 09-04-2010 10:40AM

meditraitor wrote: »

This is a facking disgrace, if my ma or misses refused any medic use of my organs after death I would haunt them .........

Isn't it? I want to donate my organs but my parents are against it. I'm not married to my partner so he is not classed as my next of kin. So if I die, it's up to them to decide.

meditraitor · 09-04-2010 10:46AM

Morkarleth wrote: »

Why do certain people continue to use "PC" to mean "things I don't like/agree with"?

I had a bottle of wine last night and the head isnt functioning, PC was the only word I could think off.... blame the €5 merlot deal in dunnes not me.

You are right of course:D

bob the bob · 09-04-2010 10:49AM

My old man has a theory that they won't try so hard to save your life if you are carrying a donor card.

not saying I agree with this (I don't) but this is an example of why someone mightn't carry one besides apathy.

Edit: just saw fuhrer's post.

Fuhrer · 09-04-2010 10:51AM

bob the bob wrote: »

My old man has a theory that they won't try so hard to save your life if you are carrying a donor card.

not saying I agree with this (I don't) but this is an example of why someone mightn't carry one besides apathy.

Your old man called George?

Wazdakka · 09-04-2010 10:51AM

Put them on the back of credit cards..

bonerm · 09-04-2010 10:53AM

Possibly the best incentive would be to bump organ-doners up waiting-lists in the even that they ever need an donation themselves.

PeakOutput · 09-04-2010 10:57AM

make it opt out not in

bump donors to the top of the list

read superfreakenomics and their case for paying for certain organs

bask in the surplus organs and no needless deaths

MaybeLogic · 09-04-2010 11:53AM

PeakOutput wrote: »

bask in the surplus organs

I've visions of myself soaking up the sun on a bed of livers and intestines.

Dave! · 09-04-2010 11:57AM

MaybeLogic wrote: »

I've visions of myself soaking up the sun on a bed of livers and intestines.

They need not be mere visions anymore my friend!

IvySlayer · 09-04-2010 12:12PM

The opt out idea is a good one. The idea that my next of kin decides is stupid. If I want them donated, don't interfer with my decision. It's better going to someone else/research.

Would be cool, some of my cells still living in another person body. It's better than being wormfood.

jigglywoo · 09-04-2010 12:22PM

I don't think many people know where or how they can become a donor and that's why the number of donors isn't very high.

I have a key chain thing because I found it lying in a drawer at home, other than that I wouldn't have thought of going on to their website to apply for a card directly, although the box is ticked on my driving license.

The Kidney Association group were at our college a few weeks ago to give a talk and hand out cards. I think most people were interested, apart from a few people who thought that if they joined they would be murdered for their organs.

I think if a few cards and some info were posted in to people's homes they could have a think about it and if they're not binned someone else might find them.

The opt out system would be much better, but I don't see that happening for a long time if ever.

PeakOutput · 09-04-2010 12:29PM

also the technology now exists for them to grow things like livers and pancreas's from your own stem cells it has already gone threw early human trials so in a few years certain organ waiting will be a thing of the past as will rejection of those organs by the body

bleg · 09-04-2010 02:11PM

Organ donation cards mean nothing. They might influence your next of kin but they have no legal standing whatsoever.

Final decision comes down to your next of kin. Let them know your wishes. They decide if you donate organs or not.

Piriz · 09-04-2010 02:23PM

Great topic OP,
i've carried one for years, and like to encourage others to do so too..
what would be the best approach to change the system to opt out? is that Mary Harneys job?

RacoonQueen · 09-04-2010 02:49PM

IvyTheTerrible wrote: »

I think it's very very important to educate everyone on this,and to get families to discuss it together. Cos it doesn't matter if you carry an organ donor card, if your next of kin doesn't agree, then your organs can't be taken. It's the next of kin that gives consent.

Yep. When I sent off for my card my mother was disgusted, I told her in no uncertain terms that if I should die before her my organs were to be donated. I had to talk her round, I still don't know if she'll donate my organs. I really, really hope she would if I was to die before her but I'm not convinced that she would.

Agree that it should be opt out, in the UK they have an organ donor list that you can sign up to. I assume the way it works is the hospital's can just input the dying persons name into the system to find out if they're on the list or not. Much easier than carrying around a card that other people may not even know you have.

gaz wac · 09-04-2010 03:00PM

Could we really trust the Gov to update this organ list properly

"where is my son's head" ?

"he is on the list to donate...oh hold on..there is two John Smiths...awkward!! "

biko · 09-04-2010 03:12PM

State paid funeral seems like a good idea.
Maybe also lower health insurance?

I'm not sure about the opt-out thing, makes it sound like your body belongs to the state and you have to take measures to make sure they don't take it from you once you're dead.
Encouragements to opt-in is the way to go I think.

Overheal · 09-04-2010 03:14PM

Wazdakka wrote: »

Put them on the back of credit cards..

Actual answer!

Although, the AH response:

Doctor: "Damnit Jim, he'd Dead!"

/Anger at self
/Dismay
/Reaches into wallet

Doctor: "This man is a donor! And he has a $20,000 line of credit..."

/nyak nyak nyak

bonerm wrote: »

Possibly the best incentive would be to bump organ-doners up waiting-lists in the even that they ever need an donation themselves.

Thats completely fair to anyone ineligible to donate an Organ. Such as myself, for visiting Ireland during the Mad Cow Outbreak (let alone living there during such)

twinQuins · 09-04-2010 03:18PM

I generally oppose opt-outs as they prey on people's ignorance.

It's a good idea in theory but...I just don't like the sound of it.

meditraitor wrote: »

I had a bottle of wine last night and the head isnt functioning, PC was the only word I could think off.... blame the €5 merlot deal in dunnes not me.

You are right of course:D

I find I'm far too hasty to reply to threads, lately. I'm sorry for using the tone I did.

HammerHeadGym · 09-04-2010 03:24PM

I have a great idea. Firstly it's opt out. Secondly, if you do choose to opt out then if you are in an accident, you dont get anyone elses organs. Basically if you have a problem with someone getting your organs after death, then we have a problem with you getting anyone elses!
Simple.

hooradiation · 09-04-2010 03:31PM

HammerHeadGym wrote: »

I have a great idea. Firstly it's opt out. Secondly, if you do choose to opt out then if you are in an accident, you dont get anyone elses organs. Basically if you have a problem with someone getting your organs after death, then we have a problem with you getting anyone elses!
Simple.

You realise that's essentially blackmail, right?
There's a difference between maximising the number of potential donors and, well, being vindictive about it.

Organ Donation

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