Refusal To Donate Organs, Means Also You Can't Receive?

[joko]

This article is of course a joke, but it raises and interesting point.

http://newsthump.com/2013/04/11/morons-still-keen-to-retain-decomposing-organs-after-death/

if you opt out, you are opting out entirely - from giving and receiving.


would those who refuse to donate organs change their tune if they were told they also couldn't receive one?
you get what you give.

does refusal also imply that you wouldn't like someone elses organs in you either?

obviously with freedom of choice this would never become a rule - but should it?

even though its ridiculous, i understand somewhat people with religious reasons - even though its not really their own choice, its down to the rules of the religion - but i think people who won't just for reasons such as "it's icky", or they just don't like the sound of it etc ... should they be faced with this prospect?

should it be an opt out, rather than an opt in system?

cheers

[woofgang]

oh, okay :-) .....I have heard it put forward as a serious suggestion.....
Dh and I used to travel abroad as he was in the merchant so there were long gaps when we couldn't donate because we were out of the country then had been to somewhere risky or had had vaccinations.

[mrs_overall]

jomifl you are totally wrong. Islam does NOT prohibit donation of organs. The reasons few Muslims are on the organ donor register is:
1. Cultural reasons
2. Many wrongly believe their religion prohibits organ donation - it does not
3. Many Muslims only want their donated organs to go to other Muslims. As this is not possible, they do not join the register.

Muslims (as well as other religious groups) are hypocrites as they are more than willing to receive organs

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

Sadly I'm not allowed to give blood or organs anymore but you could have the lot as far as I'm concerned.

[TWR]

I have been on list for years.

[daffy654]

There are many, many reasons for being unable to give blood canary, some of them prevent disease transfer to the recipient (HIV and others) and some are because a person is on a regular drug regime, there is also the fact you have to be above a certain weight.

[rsvp]

can't agree with the post from Canary42 hat if you don't give blood you shouldn't receive it. (haven't read through all the posts so maybe this has been addressed already.) I'm a universal donar therefore my blood can be used across all blood groups and is often used to help new born babies suffering from jaundice. Used to give blood on a regular basis but I've had malaria as well as chemo and radio therapy therefore am now prevented from being a blood donar. Does this mean I don't deserve a transfusion should I need it?

[joggerjayne]

Ooh, a controversial thread. Fab.

Okay, so ... what if, instead of "organ doning" we had the ...

Organ Transplant Scheme

You either joined the OTS (and were eligible to give and receive organs) or you did not join (so you were still eligible to receive, but OTS members were given priority over you).

Clearly there would be exceptions, if you wanted to join, but were unable to do so for medical reasons.

But all healthy and eligible people, upon receiving their National Insurance Number at 16, are simply invited to join the OTS, in the same way that you are invited to apply for a driving licence.

[gness]

Not at all RSVP. I have had many...too many...discussions with transplant surgeons and co-ordinators. This came up in conversation years ago. Being unable, for medical reasons, to donate would never prevent anyone from receiving an organ....we just need more. I wish everyone could experience the difference it makes. The lady who died to give my husband a kidney also gave to a teenage girl who had never had a normal life. I got as much joy from meeting her at the clinic as from my husband's new lease of life.

[LazyGun]

Compulsion should not form any part of transplantation or being a blood donor.It should remain an act of altruism, and encouraged as being a responsible act as an engaged member of society.

Personally, I think that in the absence of any medical or health reason not to be a donor, to decide not to be a donor for purely personal reasons, or because you think it "icky" or on religions grounds, then it would be hypocritical of you to then accept a blood donation or an organ donation come to that, don't you think?

[gness]

In a nutshell, LazyGun.

[daffy654]

I have been on the organ donor register for many years but I can't give blood due to my health issues and the medication I take, I was actually very disappointed when told this.

[rsvp]

would just like to add - I'm still on the organ donor register - must check out if they still want 'my bits' after my treatment.

[jim360]

Not sure I can fully agree with the idea of punishing selfish people by allowing them to die if they seriously need an organ. After all not only have you let them die, but also likely their family will have to suffer the loss of a loved one. Serves him right for being so selfish, perhaps, but still don't agree with the idea.

Even so I'd be in favour of asking people to opt out rather than opt in. There are many people out there who would probably not mind too much about donating their organs, but are too lazy to do anything about it. Like me, for instance, until mrs_overall gave me the link.

[gness]

Jim...I hope your organs are yours for a very long time...but thank you. x

[jomifl]

Jake, thanks for the link, I guess I lump all muslims together although I believe there is as much variety amongst muslims as amongst christians. Should have known better than believe what fits my prejudices.

[joko]

this is about donating suitable organs, so not sure why some are saying its unfair to them because they have medical reasons for not donating.
I wasn't actually referring to blood, but obviously if you cannot donate for health reasons, or because of an illness, then of course you would not be held up for that - and same also if your organs were not suitable for transplant - you would not and could be to blame for that.

i am not suggesting letting people die, but in terms of the 'waiting list' perhaps people who refuse to donate should be added to the bottom of the list wherever possible - basically if its a 'toss up' between 2 people, who gets the next available kidney etc and one has signed up, they they get priority

[woofgang]

What if they are a known paedophile or murderer and the person who hasn't signed up is a loving hard working parent?
the transplant service needs funding as well as organs...would a honking donation be acceptable instead and if not, why not? it has the potential to do way more good than an organ or two?