UK Organ Donation

[thefadedone]

I've been listed as a donor for many years, but just recently changed my mind. Not sure about anywhere else, but here in California you can control your donor status online. I've changed mine from an organ donor to available for research only, for a few reasons. Partly for the reasons mentioned above and one that no one else has mentioned yet.
I've spent most of my life doing what I can to prevent animal cruelty, which is why I'm vegan. I've read stories of people, who after receiving organs felt good enough to resume past activities such as hunting and fishing. More than likely they will go to multiple omnis, and I hate to think that after I die, I'm enabling not just one, but probably many people to resume hurting animals. I have family members who eat meat, and the thought they wouldn't receive an organ because of that is horrible, but then I think of the factory farming cruelty and the thought that I would be contributing to that after I died sickens me. If I could put a condition on giving an organ, such as having to watch Earthlings or Meet Your Meat, I might be willing to do that.

I didn't want them to go to waste though, so I made them available for research. Plus, I don't think they'll let you die for research organs, the same way they might for organs donated to another person. I once saw someone admit to the same thing on a blog, and she got an unbelievable amount of hate mail, but it's your choice to do what you want with your organs.
Go ahead and tell me I'm awful.

I was actually waiting for this to be brought up. I don't think you're horrible or awful for thinking that way.

 

[Moll Flanders]

I didn't want them to go to waste though, so I made them available for research.

I think that is perfectly reasonable.

 

[Muggle]

I used to be freaked out by the idea. Then I saw a dead body.

They can have whatever they can use.

 

[Alice-Bee]

Calliegirl- I had the same thought. I think I would be upset knowing (if I could know) my organs went to an omni. I did my best to look after my body with healthy diet, but its not like you can say 'no meat eaters' on your donor card lol.

Im really torn on this issue.

 

[Spang]

I've never been dead before, but I think that any concerns a person may have, in regards to being an organ donor, go away when dead.

 

[Envy]

I would.

 

[Alice-Bee]

I've never been dead before, but I think that any concerns a person may have, in regards to being an organ donor, go away when dead.

But as Lola said, does your family's wishes come in to it at all? I feel like Id be more upset at the though of M being cut up and his organs being used by others. But is it my place to tell him he cant be a donor?

 

[Spang]

But as Lola said, does your family's wishes come in to it at all?

I don't think so; it's my body.

 

[thefadedone]

Calliegirl- I had the same thought. I think I would be upset knowing (if I could know) my organs went to an omni. I did my best to look after my body with healthy diet, but its not like you can say 'no meat eaters' on your donor card lol.

Im really torn on this issue.

Or assholes.

 

[shyvas]

Or assholes.

I can add a few things to the list ; omnis, assholes, reckless drivers .........................

As the majority of adults are either/both, I really don't wont to donate anymore.

 

[Calliegirl]

I was watching a show about a man who had gotten a face transplant. He was a hunter and was repositioning a gun in the cabinet when it went off and shot him in the face. He was hermit for 10 years (I think) before getting the transplant and being able to go out in public again. I was waiting and hoping to hear him say, after seeing first hand what it feels like to get shot, he would never hunt again. Sadly, nothing about coming to see how cruel it is and the one of the first things he did was go fishing.

We need a veg*n organ donor registry.

 

[Amy SF]

I was watching a show about a man who had gotten a face transplant. He was a hunter and was repositioning a gun in the cabinet when it went off and shot him in the face. He was hermit for 10 years (I think) before getting the transplant and being able to go out in public again. I was waiting and hoping to hear him say, after seeing first hand what it feels like to get shot, he would never hunt again. Sadly, nothing about coming to see how cruel it is and the one of the first things he did was go fishing.

We need a veg*n organ donor registry.

People would scream that such a registry discriminates against everyone else. What if somebody needed a new kidney and would die TODAY without one, and they're like the guy above who happily hunts and fishes, and a veg*an had a kidney that was a good match, but didn't want it to go to this guy? It would be a major freakin' scandal.

 

[Forster]

Being an organ donor ought to be a prerequisite to getting on a recipient list.

 

[kibbleforlola]

Being an organ donor ought to be a prerequisite to getting on a recipient list.

I don't know if I agree with that. What about people who aren't healthy enough to donate?

 

[SummerRain]

I want to donate my organs because if I needed an organ, I would want somebody else to donate. Personally, most of the reasons not to donate seem to me to be sentimental, I don't think that's a good enough reason not to save somebodies life. I think if most people met people desparately needing an organ donation, they'd probably change their minds... but maybe, like saying "if slaughter houses had glass walls..." that's just too optimistic.

My fiance and me are polar opposites, there is no way he'd want to donate his organs, because he thinks most people are selfish/cruel/destructive/etc and doesn't want to help them live a life he doesn't agree with. The way I see it, people are responsible for their own choices - just because I help somebody live doesn't make it my responsibility what they do with their lives. It's still a wonderful thing to save somebodies life, even if that person is an ********. I don't think it's my call to say whether or not somebody deserves to live.

However, we've both agreed in the event of the others death, we'll agree to what they wanted. I don't think it really has anything to do with the family members, unless the person whose died didn't express their wishes (and so family need to decide what they think the deceased would have wanted). My family (or finace) don't own my body in life ... so I don't see why anybody would think it was their choice in my death either.

I think opt-out is a good system, because in my experience few people have strong oppinions about not donating - they just don't get around to signing up. As long as people with strong oppinions against donation can opt out easily, and it's made clear with lots of publicity that the law has changed, I think it'd be a great thing for people in need of donated organs.

 

[Calliegirl]

People would scream that such a registry discriminates against everyone else. What if somebody needed a new kidney and would die TODAY without one, and they're like the guy above who happily hunts and fishes, and a veg*an had a kidney that was a good match, but didn't want it to go to this guy? It would be a major freakin' scandal.

I know a registry like that would never happen, it was just a thought. And something like that would only further the stereotype that we think we are better than everyone else.

 

[Forster]

I don't know if I agree with that. What about people who aren't healthy enough to donate?

There can always be exceptions for such things, one can always apply to be on the list and if they turn you down for health reasons it's not really your fault then.

 

[das_nut]

There can always be exceptions for such things, one can always apply to be on the list and if they turn you down for health reasons it's not really your fault then.

Priority could be dependent on how long you're on the list as well.

And few people are so unhealthy that nothing can be donated.

This would be a bad idea in practice (since priority should go to the best matches, those who are most likely to survive, etc), but if those weren't concerns, it would be nice if those willing to donate organs got a higher priority than those who did not.

 

[thefadedone]

I was watching a show about a man who had gotten a face transplant. He was a hunter and was repositioning a gun in the cabinet when it went off and shot him in the face. He was hermit for 10 years (I think) before getting the transplant and being able to go out in public again. I was waiting and hoping to hear him say, after seeing first hand what it feels like to get shot, he would never hunt again. Sadly, nothing about coming to see how cruel it is and the one of the first things he did was go fishing.

We need a veg*n organ donor registry.

Wow that's incredibly sad and mind boggling. Also pretty infuriating. I would also assume that the guy would gain a whole new perspective and insight when it comes to hunting and getting shot so he would change his ways.

People would scream that such a registry discriminates against everyone else. What if somebody needed a new kidney and would die TODAY without one, and they're like the guy above who happily hunts and fishes, and a veg*an had a kidney that was a good match, but didn't want it to go to this guy? It would be a major freakin' scandal.

But what about it being your body, your choice? I don't know. I just think it would be nice to pick and choose who gets your organs when you die. There are just certain people that I would not want to be responsible for saving. I know that sounds awful, but if someone like a child murderer needed one of my organs I wouldn't want it going to them.

 

[Pirate]

I think I'm in the minority here. To me, a life is a life, and I have no right to decide who deserves to live and who deserves to die - just because their morals are not in line with mine. I can't imagine opting out just becuase one person *might* hunt or fish etc. and I do think it perpetutates the crazy vegan stereotype.