All Adults Will Be Presumed To Be Organ Donors …

[naomi24]

…..unless they explicitly opt out.

//An opt-out system for organ donation will soon become law after it passed its last hurdle in Parliament.

Campaigners hope the new system will encourage us to make our wishes known before we die, with an online register for those opting out.

Research has shown more than 80 per cent of adults in England would definitely donate their organs or would consider doing so. However, only 37 per cent of Britons have registered as donors on the NHS Organ Donor Register and received a donor card.

However, Professor Chris Rudge, a leading transplant surgeon, has said he would opt out on the grounds that the State should not presume to take a citizen’s organs. Last year he said: ‘Organ donation should be a present … I am so horribly opposed to a change in the law.’//

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-6659669/All-adults-presumed-organ-donors-unless-explicitly-opt-new-law.html

Your thoughts?. For or against?

[Bigbad]

I presume Big dad was aimed at me, annneasquith!

So why not give options as to who you would donate?
Would you donate to a person who’s medical condition occurred ‘naturally’? Yes.
Would you donate to an alcoholic who is likely to waste the organs that may have gone to someone else? No.
Would you donate to someone who was diagnosed in another country but came here as a health tourist? No.

Those options won’t be given.
So neither will my organs.

[Canary42]

The "age" issue is interesting. I wonder how effective any organ is likely to be if the donor is over a certain age, and whether this age limit differs for different organs (e.g. cornea v heart).

Does anyone know the record (upper) age for an organ donation ?

[woofgang]

Prudie, as I have said, this, for me, is not about my views about donation, its about the governments attitude to the issue.

[jno]

maybe we could just agree to donate specified parts of the bpdy, Bigbad. My pinna and my philtrum but not my gnathion or my columella.

[rowanwitch]

I worked with transplant patients, I have already opted out, I have a Card in my purse that says under no circumstances can my organs be used for transplantation. It also says i refuse to accept a transplant even in a life of death situation. Did it years ago while still nursing. Let's just say George best was a minor example.

[anneasquith]

Big bad, thankfully organ donation is not compulsory, so you are free to opt out .

[Bigbad]

Exactly anneasquith, and you are free to stay opted in.
Plenty of reasons on this thread for and against.
Mostly personal preferences.
Different strokes for different folks.

I assume a child would need an organ from another child.

Philitrum would be fine, jno.
As long as it doesn’t go to Daniella Westbrook!

[jno]

can anyone explain what will actually happen if you've omitted to opt out? Will your body automatically go to some clinic where they cut out anything not diseased and pop it in the freezer until needed? Will they just remove bits for which there's a request in? If the queues are anything like they are to see a GP, how long do your family have to postpone your funeral?

(I presume all these questions are already appropriate under the current system, so someone may know the answers.)

[jno]

it's Daniella's columella that's the problem, Bigbad! She misplaced hers.

[fender62]

good idea, they can my bits and pieces..maybe a bit mouldy in my dotage..lol

[THECORBYLOON]

NJ, if folk are that concerned about keeping their organs after death, they'll not mind spending a wee bit time registering that fact.

[naomi24]

I don’t mind who gets my bits and pieces. They will be no good to me so I may as well give someone else the chance of an improved life – or even life itself. Rather that than waste them.

[THECORBYLOON]

CANARY, a 107-year old woman donated her corneas, https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14598738.107-year-old-woman-becomes-scotlands-oldest-organ-donor/

A 92-year old donated his liver https://www.organdonor.gov/about/donors/seniors.html

[Pyxis]

It's good, not least because it will do away with the awful situation where the deceased person had registered to be an organ donor, but the relatives have stopped it happening.

That had happened so many times, and defeats the object of signing up to be a donor.


I wouldn't discriminate against non-donors receiving an organ. Donating an organ is an act of kindness, love, even, to a stranger, no matter who that stranger is.
Not all organs would be compatible with someone in need, and they may need a rare type.

Plus, once you start making conditions as to who should get your organ, you are opening up a massive can of worms.
Don't let's go down that road.

[gness]

Canary.....as far as I can tell from a quick look the oldest donor was a 107 year old Scottish lady. The oldest internal organ donation was from a man of 92.
The parents of a baby who lived for only a few hours donated kidneys to an adult.
A child does not necessarily need a donation from another child.

I couldn't opt out. My organs can be used rather than rot away in the ground because I have seen the agony of waiting for a donated organ and the difference it makes when a transplant takes place. Not just for MrG but for so many of those I got to know in the transplant unit.
To see the difference in a young teenage lass is just lovely..

Yes, the person receiving the transplant may be someone I'd not donate to were I alive.....and I did think carefully about remaining on the donor list
after experiencing the poor aftercare given in some hospitals such as LGH......but I'll risk that...x

[gness]

Thanks, Corby!..... :-)

[THECORBYLOON]

If the Welsh system is adopted, even with presumed consent, the next-of-kin can object still.

[fender62]

here's a thought, if you donate..you get a free funeral, i wonder how many would decline..

[woofgang]

"can anyone explain what will actually happen if you've omitted to opt out? Will your body automatically go to some clinic where they cut out anything not diseased and pop it in the freezer until needed? Will they just remove bits for which there's a request in? If the queues are anything like they are to see a GP, how long do your family have to postpone your funeral? "

Jno that's kind of what I asked. Will there be able to sell the bits that there's no call for guv?

[gness]

Won't they just do as they do already with those of us on the donor list?