Organ donation

[kwicky]

Now that Gordon Brown has suggested that Organ donation should be allowed without consent does it mean a change in the law?

If this scheme is to go ahead can we expect a complete reversal whereby you will need to carry a card if you DON'T want your organs removed?

[Buenchico]

No change in the law would be required because, under English law, nobody has ownership of a dead body. It simply requires a change to professional codes.

Donor cards, as such, aren't particularly important as doctors now rely on a national database of donors. If 'assumed consent' is adopted, there wouldn't be any need for anyone who didn't want to donate organs to actually carry a card. They would simply have to add their name to the database of 'non-donors'.

Chris

[Le Chat]

kwicky - Your question is loaded! It would make a great Daily Mail Headline " Organ Donation now allowed without consent!"
Chris has the perfect answer, as usual!
I don't know what would happen though, in the case of a person who had never entered their wishes on a database and had no family to say 'no' to the donation of organs. Presumably, it would not go ahead?

[kwicky]

Le Chat you are completely wrong about my intentions for organ donation. In fact my family are signed up to the offical NHS website. Also this proposed system is much simpler and will be more effective.

The purpose of carrying a card to opt out will give the same assurance to the holder as the previous system which Buenchico points out and details will be available on the NHS register.

.http://www.uktransplant.org.uk/ukt/how_to_beco me_a_donor/how_to_become_a_donor.jsp

[jno]

so you'd just rely on an NHS computer system to see your wishes done, then, Chris? Hm, I think a card might be better, to say nothing of having HANDS OFF tattooed on salient parts of your body (if that's what you want, of course)

[China Doll]

I think it's a fantastic idea and as I kind of agree with jno regarding the NHS computer systems I think you should carry a card to say if you don't want to be a donar, not the other way round. You could even cite then if there's part of your body you don't want them to take (I've a thing about my eyes though I know its not logical).

Anyway, we're only going to get burned or burried so it's not like we need our vital organs after death and if it's of some benefit to someone else then I'm all for the idea. Just with a non-donar card.

[Loosehead]

As I've said in previous incarnations of this question, I just don't trust them to make sure your dead first. I have visions of paramedics playing god in the backs of ambulances. I don't want to have to remember to have a card on me all the time and I don't trust them to have a proper look for it either. The system we have is fine, I suggest that some sort of tatoo be used for those who want to be donors so they don't have to carry a cars. Say a red "D" on the foot for example.

[Zen]

EVERYONE is to be fitted with a zip as part of Gordon Brown�s plan to nationalise Britain�s kidneys.

The zip will run across the middle of the abdomen to allow for the quick and easy removal of major organs and body parts � all of which will become the property of the Cabinet Office from next April.

Harvested organs will be given to Labour Party donors or used to make pies for the TUC conference.

Under the government�s plans the police, parking wardens and the inland revenue will also be given the power to confiscate innards for minor misdemeanours, public order offences and late payment of tax.

[Quinlad]

Loosehead, do you eat a lot of cheese before bed?

[what..the?]

zen pmsl
tony - not fall asleep lol
loosehead - just what I was going to say.

I dont trust the NHS they killed my brother in hospital last year the F**kers.

And when it comes to my time and that of my long term boyfriend we know that the machine will be turned off that bit too early, the 'victim' not given enough chances to recover.

And when it comes to opting out, I truely beleive that even when I opt out it will be 'acidentally' 'ignored' so they can turn the machine off. I am not one for tatoo's at all but I think I might have to get one if this goes ahead, or if I wimp out an id type necklace telling them to **** off because I have opted out, what are the chances it falls off on the way to the hospital.

[jno]

the poor people of the East End used to take working holidays every year helping out with the Organ Harvest. To disallow this would be to abandon a great British tradition and throw people on the dole queue..

[galltin]

what...the , why should they go against everything they have been trained to do (save lives) on the off chance that your organs can save someone they don't know? As for accidently ignoring the database they would have the a*se sued off them!

[bustergutt]

This will become one big nightmare for all of us who don`t want our organs donated as there was a scandal a few years ago where babies organs were taken without consent!.... Now the door is open for them to be taken legally as the database could be overlooked! parts taken and who would know? once you are pronounced dead who in the immediate family inspects the body after? it could be embalmed and intered without anyone knowing their loved ones have been robbed.

[galltin]

I take it that all of you who disagree wouldn't dream of putting either yourselves or your loved ones on a transplant list should the need arise?