Organ Donation

[toby99]

If we do go down the line of comulsary organ donation unless we opt out - How can we ensure that everyone has been provided with the information and correctly understood it to make an informed decision and does this mean the Government will own our bodies to do with it what they want?

[Bewlay Bros]

Easy. Make it law.

Ignorance is no excuse. Do you receive a copy of every new law that is passed in the UK?

[toby99]

We may receive copies, but I am talking about informed decisions/consent i.e. do we understand it fully. You may have the cognative skills, but this is not the case for everyone!

[Bewlay Bros]

Eh????????

No the point is you do not receive copies. Laws are passed everyday which you have no knowledge about, yet if you break them you will be penalised.

With public announcement, mass media coverage, news reports, radio reports, TV adverts, poster campaigns, AB, word of mouth etc etc etc etc etc

If somebody doesn't opt out, but wanted to, then it's their fault. But as they will be dead when the mistake is made, what's the problem?

[meglet]

I've always carried a donor card and my nearest and dearest would always give consent. Don't really know why anyone would have a problem with it anyway.

[Jillius]

It's a crying shame that good organs are being buried or cremated every day when there are people dying because they need a transplant. What good are they to us when we are dead. All my family are donors and if either of my kids died it would give me great comfort to know that part of them was living on. Perhaps doctors should just do it without telling anyone ??? Just a thought.

[Bewlay Bros]

Jillius I think they did that with the baby organs scandal a few years back. And look at the mess that cuased some heath authorities.

The organs were for research, but same principles as leaving your body to medical esearch is pretty much the same as giving organs is the purpose is to save life.

As much as I despise this government, and wish they would die and leave their organs to decent people, what Brown is proposing is a a very good measure.

However knowing my luck he will die and leave me his left eye!!!!!

[meglet]

Mmm, not sure Jilius. Remember the scandal with Alder Hey keeping childrens "tissue" i.e. hearts and brains. There should be more organ donation counsellors so the next of kin can make an informed decision.

[Jillius]

Yeas, that's true. I never thought of that !

[toby99]

I think it is because we cannot bear the thought of it. 40% of bereaved say no when asked and later regret their decision, but it is asked at such a traumatic time you can not think rationally. I believe we should opt in not be forced. Once we have signed onto a central database it remains and your loved ones are not given the choice.

GPs take donor wishes now and patients sign a form when joining the practices and the info is held with the NHS, but noone does anything with the information.

[JonnyBoy12]

Why are the people of the country so concerned about the government taking the deceased's organs without consent? They have taken our money without our consent for over 200 years, and have dignified this with the name "Income Tax". Correct me if I am wrong, but this was introduced as a temporary tax in 1799, by William Pitt, to fund the then Boer War. We are all still waiting for it to be repealed. Does this mean if I refuse to give my consent for Income tax, then I can get out of that? I need my money when I am alive, more than my organs when I am dead.

By the way I am a blood platelet donor, and a future organ donor.

[toby99]

Why can't they promote it come to your door like they do when chasing the electoral roll non compliers and collect sign ups that way instead of forcing everyone - like I said how can they be sure everyone can make an informed decision?

[toby99]

Jonnyboy - currently, you are not a future donor if your next of kin say no, which they may well do in such a distressing time. That is why I believe we should sign up and keep the family out of the decision. I am all for promotiing it with every employer, GPs, actively getting involved signing up people and door to door 'selling' etc , but let it be choice

[meglet]

JonnyBoy, if you did that then presumaby you would also not use any of the services that your income tax pays for such as, oh I dunno, schools, highways or hospitals?

[JonnyBoy12]

I stand corrected, Toby99, as I did not know that my family could override the wishes of the individual, even if they hold a donor card. I will have to talk to them about this, and I too agree with you that this should be entirely up to the individual. You would object if your family cut you out of their will, but that is not up to you, is it?

Yes, I think we should all be informed about this, but whatever means is needed. Possibly campaigns on television like we had for AIDS in the mid to late 80s (apologies to our younger ABers who will be too young to remember this) or by leaflets to every household in the U.K.

[Brent pigeon]

There has been so much coverage that it seems unlikely to me that anyone who concerns themselves with these issues will really not be aware of the need to opt out. The only people who are likely to object are people with very strong religious views and those who are afraid that they might have organs removed while they are still capable of recovery. Neither set of people is likely to have failed to noticed the current controversy.
Also as family consent is still required the chances of someone secretly objecting to organ donaiton but not hapening to mention it are very unlikely. Everyone I have evey known wiht an objection to donating an organ has been vocal about it.
It is extremely expensive running campaigns trying to persuade more people to become donors and that is money that would have to be taken out of the health budget.

[toby99]

The Government is getting away with this new line of deciding for us and then us opting out - it is wrong. It is like the central database for GP clinical records. They intend to do it and then we opt out if we wish, but many people haven't a clue what is going on and therefore cannot make a true informed decision. Where will they stop if we let them get away with it.

I happen to wish that everyone would become a donor, on a central database linked to all hospitals, to help the living, and I too would register, but if it concerned my daughter I don't how my mind could even go there to enable me to make the decision or even sign her on the register, but I know, god forbid if she became ill, I would pray for a donor.

[Whoever]

When I think of the poor dead person who donated his liver to improve the life of another individual and it then ended up in the body of George Best who totally abused this previous gift of a new life, I'm not sure I want to be an organ donor. I try and look after my body and don't want my organs abused, even after my death. If I could be sure they were going to a worthy individual I might be prepared to change my mind, but as my next of kin would be barred from knowing who the recipient would be because of the anonimity laws, I'd be tempted to opt out.. (I used to carry one but I'm afraid that various well publicised absuses caused me to tear it up).