Organ Donation Discussion: Views, Refusals, and Opt-Out Systems

[Moonbear]

I am a registered organ donor. Here in the US you can select "organ donor" on your drivers license, which I have.

Just so folks know, that's not enough to assure you will be an organ donor. They still need final permission from your next of kin, so if you do check that box, make sure whoever would be making decisions about you also knows your wishes and understands and will abide by those wishes. I guess you could always write a clause into your will that if they don't consent to donation if you have useable organs that you'll give their share of the inheritance to the cat or something. That should get them to comply.

For whoever asked why it would be on a driver's license, that's because it's the most common form of identification held by people in the US, so when they bring you in from the car crash and identify your body based on the DL in your pocket, they also know at the same time you wish to be an organ donor. I haven't checked that box. My sister knows my wishes, which is more important than that checked box, and I don't want anyone to be too over-eager to get my body parts before I'm done with them if they see that box checked and there isn't any family present yet to decide what to do.

 

[juvenal]

they don't just pull out anyone's organs either. the organs must be healthy of course and then compatible with the recipient. and i doubt the rumor you hear is true, otherwise many more lawsuits would be in court.

Not sure about that. The dead don't sue. Maybe you'd have upset family members - but they'd have to prove that the doctor was lying.

I see no reason to worry about my body parts after I'm dead - so I've also marked "Organ Donor" on my DL.

There's a funny story by Judy Budnitz about organ donation here (Starts at the 34 minute mark):

http://207.70.82.73/ra/256.ram

 

[spender]

Yeah I am an organ donor too. I see no problem with taking anything once I am dead, or with taking anything while I am alive, as long as I can still live normally.

Sure Man ! and logicall, Once I'm dead who the hell cares what they do to my body, they can even make lampshades from my skin if they want, and the rest throw to the dogs.
Guys Remember once you die you stay that way !

 

[dextercioby]

There's about 10^{-very much} chance not to happen.

Search under the Poincaré theorem.One of the things that drove poor Boltzmann to suicide.

Daniel.

 

[Andromeda321]

I am an organ donor on my driver's liscense because it just seems natural to lend a helping hand if possible. And why wouldn't you want to save a person's life if you could, which is exactly what organ donation does? It's on par with giving blood at a blood drive really except you know there will be no adverse effects (because once your dead there's not much they can do about it).
Oh, and to dispell one popular myth: no they're not "more willing" to let you die if you're an organ donor. Think about it now: does that make sense at all seeing as the people in charge of your care are not in any way connected to that entire process/ the person who will end up getting your organs?
And if you want to they can fix up what's left of your body to look normal for funerary purposes. You might not care but your relatives might like such closure.

 

[singleton]

As someone who is not religious, I identify my body with who I am. Therefore it is rather disturbing for me to imagine parts of me "living" in someone else. It flat out bothers me! Who wants to have part of you living inside someone else? Well...not me!

When I die, I want the whole package to go into the fireplace

(Sorry I can't be of more use to some organ-needy people of the future.)

 

[arildno]

Ok, singleton:
Do you go about shedding tears for lost dandruff?

 

[juvenal]

People who aren't willing to donate organs should also not be allowed to receive organs. That would be a good system to implement.

 

[singleton]

Ok, singleton:
Do you go about shedding tears for lost dandruff?

Certainly not.

I would think a piece of dead skin is quite different than a life sustaining organ that was with me from the beginning of my existence, don't you?

This is just how I feel. It is neither wrong nor right.

I'm not asking for organs and I'm not giving any!

 

[brewnog]

People who aren't willing to donate organs should also not be allowed to receive organs. That would be a good system to implement.

I wish I'd thought of that!

Fantastic idea. Is this system implemented anywhere in the world? When I set up my country, we'll use these rules. (Juvenal Protocol, I believe).

 

[juvenal]

I wish I'd thought of that!

Fantastic idea. Is this system implemented anywhere in the world? When I set up my country, we'll use these rules. (Juvenal Protocol, I believe).

Thanks. Don't need to name it after me, though. I'll just be happy you implemented it.

 

[motai]

What about those crazy conspiracy theories that people will secretly assassinate you if you are an organ donor to take care of shortages ?

 

[juvenal]

What about those crazy conspiracy theories that people will secretly assassinate you if you are an organ donor to take care of shortages ?

What do you mean by assassination?

If you're not talking about doctor-assisted assassination, then well, someone with the means of assassinating you probably has the means to fake your organ donor information.

 

[motai]

What do you mean by assassination?

If you're not talking about doctor-assisted assassination, then well, someone with the means of assassinating you probably has the means to fake your organ donor information.

The government/third party/neo-elitist serpentine society people, the same bad guys in every other conspiracy theory.

 

[juvenal]

The government/third party/neo-elitist serpentine society people, the same bad guys in every other conspiracy theory.

If there wasn't an X-files episode on this, then it doesn't exist in real life.

 

[scholar]

I'm an organ donor, and am listed as such on my driver's licence. I know for a fact that my family won't prevent the doctors from taking whatever organs they need if I die, as they are all donors too. :)

 

[Evo]

I find being incinerated or eaten by maggots less appealing than donating organs.

Moonbear, my father's ashes were given to my mother. (or what were supposedly his ashes, I have my doubts that they were so careful ) I think he donated his body to Baylor, but I'm not positive. I don't think my dad had too many reusable organs at the time he died (it was a very long time ago, not many transplant options back then).

It really is nice to see how many people here are donors.

 

[arildno]

I find being incinerated or eaten by maggots less appealing than donating organs.

And, at least to me, getting my brain sucked out through my nose and being replaced by embalming fluid doesn't hold much appeal either.

 

[juvenal]

I find being incinerated or eaten by maggots less appealing than donating organs.

Very good point. Who knows? Some grave robbers may even steal your body and do unspeakable things to it.

 

[arildno]

Very good point. Who knows? Some grave robbers may even steal your body and do unspeakable things to it.

In the 18th century, grave-robbers worked on comission for the hospitals in England to procure anatomical specimens (unofficially, that is).
I doubt if the grave-robbers today work towards the progress of science..

 

[spender]

Very good point. Who knows? Some grave robbers may even steal your body and do unspeakable things to it.

At least once in a lifetime he is going to be usefull to society in one way or another.

 

[Lyuokdea]

I am a registered organ donor with with the note on my driver's liscence etc. and I fully support organ donation in the case that I am dead. However, one thing that bothers me about organ donation is that in several states, whether you are an organ donor or not can influence whether you are medically dead in x circumstance. Sometimes because of the need to use organs quickly after death, they are laxer with their description of brain death specifically in some states.

That really bothers me, especailly as the brain is not a well understood organ and some people have been declared brain dead and then suddenly experienced some revival later. Whether you are a donor or not should not matter to doctors at all until you are legally dead.

~Lyoukdea

 

[brewnog]

It really is nice to see how many people here are donors.

Wellll, not yet they're not!



I wonder how many people who have said they'll be an organ donor actually donate blood? (Or bone marrow?)

 

[Gale]

Wellll, not yet they're not!



I wonder how many people who have said they'll be an organ donor actually donate blood? (Or bone marrow?)

Well, i won't donate an organ, but i will donate blood. I'd even donate a kidney as long as I'm living when i give it up. If I'm alive and there are bits of me alive somewhere else, that's different than being dead and bits of me living still. Death is death and when I'm dead i shouldn't have pieces of me still living. I also wouldn't want anyone elses organs for the same reasons. But i don't think it'd be right to not allow them to receive donations. I think people who won't donate organs should opt not to take them, as i would, because it'd be hyppocritcal. I think perhaps doners should just receive priority, but then non-doners could still receive them as well.

 

[Andromeda321]

Gale17: so if you donated a kidney while alive and that person was still living when you died that part of you would "go on living" so what's the difference?
As for blood donation, I'd like to do it but I don't weigh enough to do so, sigh. I plan to once I stop being so scrawny, however.

 

[Gale]

Gale17: so if you donated a kidney while alive and that person was still living when you died that part of you would "go on living" so what's the difference?
As for blood donation, I'd like to do it but I don't weigh enough to do so, sigh. I plan to once I stop being so scrawny, however.

i guess its sort of an obscure idea, but i guess my kidney would have time to adjust to the new body, and it would become less mine, and more that persons. secondly, i would likely only give my kidney if it was someone i knew, or if i was asked or something. I'd hopefully know who i was giving it to. third, i guess if i donated after i became deceased it'd be sort of like bringing my kidney back from the dead. My kidney would have gone through the shock of death and i just don't think its right to revive it in a foreign place.

 

[tribdog]

So Moonbear, how does one donate their brain?

in your case, call Microsoft

 

[Joel]

What an excellent idea! I'm having this whimpy attitude against blood donation (I faint or puke on the sight of a needle in me), so by signing up for organ donation I can feel useful AND not ill.

 

[tribdog]

If they ever get that cryogenics business figured out I'm no longer donating my body to anyone. Freeze me and wake me up when I can be immortal.

 

[brewnog]

Well, i won't donate an organ, but i will donate blood.

That wasn't the question. DO you donate blood?

If they ever get that cryogenics business figured out I'm no longer donating my body to anyone. Freeze me and wake me up when I can be immortal.

Find me a taxidermist, I want to be stuffed.