Great news amon all the doom and gloom

Honest family discussions are so important. My loved ones would not dare refuse- as they know my clear wishes. But people need to talk.

At my age, organ donation is no longer important for me. But it could be for one of my children or grandchildren. And I agree Calendargirl- for anyone losing a child or grandchild - knowign their awful loss has saved several other children- would somehow give the tragedy some 'sense'.

BTW- the current donation card does not give specific instructions as to which bit, or not- and re 'body remaining intact on outside' (why?). But yes, if you felt strongly that way- write it down and give it to your nearest and dearest, just in case. Simple enough.

Organs will still go to waste under the opt out system but there’s evidence to show that it can increase the number of donations and can reduce the numbers of families who refuse.

It’s obviously very emotive, but definitely worth having conversations now with your family.

youtu.be/NCsxHkwcCbs

simple enough, no?

As said, do add a note to say you refuse donations too- so donors can be prioritised. Only fair.

I believe this change - which I whole-heartedly support - has come about because a lot of people simply did not get around to registering as organ donors, although many of them would be in favour of donating, is that not so?

I must say it feels all wrong to me that rellatives can overrule someone's express wish to donate their organs, I think that's simply wrong, no matter how distressing the situation. I certainly think this should alleviate their distress at the death of a family member, it must be a terrible thing to have to decide.

Not sure about your link, jura2.

It is worth having conversations and when you're all sat around in rude health it's simple to agree to anything and everything.

Just don't be too harsh on people who are unable to see their warm relative being wheeled off to have organs harvested.

Not everyone can

I've also seen people whose family member has died being devastated that their organs can't be retrieved to help others.
Say they've died in a car crash and arrived DOA the organs are useless.

Lots of people don't understand that.

It's a lot harder when your loved one is lying 'breathing' (thanks to a machine) and warm to the touch.

I'd never say well if you ever need an organ don't come back.

We need empathy.

It's tragic that people die as a result of not receiving an organ but I don't want to go down the route of state harvesting either.

Exactly Oopsminty! This opt out option could actually turn people off and make them against any sort of organ donation. Tragic whichever way you are looking at it.

I wonder if your medical history is carefully checked before organs are used?

In Wales there is already an opt-in system but I'm not sure that anyone would want to receive mine.
I would not refuse a donation if necessary but certain conditions would surely make donation inadvisable?

I think advising people to refuse donations if they opt out is a non-sequitor because some people may need a donation but would be a totally unsuitable donor.

only fair

No, it is not.
That means that a sick person must offer to become a donor before being eligible to receive a much-needed donation.

Life is not fair. Of course it would be awful and totally inappropriate to say you have to be a donor before you can receive an organ. Organs need to be given freely to whoever needs them. No strings attached.

I've left my entire body to be used to practice dissection, or whatever it is they do. I hope my family will do as I wish, but it is a faff to organise and I won't be able to!

Well said, momb.

The world isn't ideal either. Ideally we wouldn't need an opt out register, but we do because, as some have already suggested, people just don't get around to opting in.

Try as I might I find I don't understand the worry some people have about what happens to their body after they're dead. I accept that this is the case but I just don't get it. This is a plain statement of fact about how I feel, not a judgment.

I think we need to decide whether we want to be part of a society where we all benefit from increased access to organs (which in turn means accepting that we are required to donate our no longer needed bodies after death) or whether we feel that ‘others’ should provide them which in turn will limit availability.

Which already does limit availibility, chen, and which is why this opt out rule is being suggested. It has been suggested before.

Callistemon: ''No, it is not.
That means that a sick person must offer to become a donor before being eligible to receive a much-needed donation.''

of course not - it means you should not have officially opted out of the system (of course, this is not the case- just my take on it. I feel strongly that if you are not prepared to give, in principle, you should not be prepared to receive).

Many people feel as you do Baggs others like me would like to feel that my body remained intact (albeit minus organs) on the outside. An open casket with a hacked about body inside would not be a pleasant sight even for even the hardiest people to cope with.
I am not saying that those who don’t care what happens to their body should not opt in to organ donation (as mentioned previously I am currently an organ donor on a register site where my specific feelings have been taken into account)
Also my DH who has had many operations has always agreed to experimental surgery and procedures in order that it may help or benefit others. I am religious and know that organ donation is not against my religion but it brings with it certain feelings about my body and as it is my body I feel I should have the right in the new opt in system to say exactly what I would and wouldn’t like to happen to it. For example I wouldn’t like bits of me sitting in a jam jar on someone’s shelf for years. I would just like to be treated with a bit of respect. If people didn’t care about the bodies of their loved ones then there would not be such a fuss when body parts are uncovered in hospitals years after people have died.
jura we have discussed our wishes with our children and they are well aware that both me and my DH are currently on the organ donation register.

But it's not up to 'us', SirChenjin.

We can register, express our desire, inform our family.

But it is down to the relatives at the end of the day.

What would you do with the family of, say, a 23 year old motorbike accident victim, who just can't agree to this procedure? They can't bear the thought of their loved one's organs being removed. They're inconsolable.

Would you just ignore them and remove?

What sort of country would that make us?

and of course : 'I wonder if your medical history is carefully checked before organs are used?'

BTW I am not allowed to give blood in Switzerland or France, as I lived in the UK due to the CJD crisis. I could give organs, as they can be thoroughly flushed of all blood products.

Ridiculous original post. You are taking it for granted that everyone else agrees with you. How overly self important.

Both my body and OHs will be donated for science.

When I told my daughter she said: " great, if Dad goes before you it leaves more money in the pot for us"

I told her she can have the body back after 3 years: she said "nah" ?

‘Us/we’ as in at societal level Callistemon. It requires buy in from us all (or not) in order to make it work for everyone who needs organs (or may need them at some point in the future). If/when it becomes the norm then perhaps attitudes will change so that it’s a natural conversation at the end of life.

What you have written is interesting to read, doodle. It is good to know how other people feel even if one doesn't really understand it.

I think if enough people spell out their feelings and objections it should be possible for adjustments to be made to the general expectation of the new approach.

Meanwhile there may well be enough who don't opt out for whatever reason so that there is no shortage of organs or research material.

I feel strongly that if you are not prepared to give, in principle, you should not be prepared to receive
I'm sorry to disagree, jura but those people who may be in most need of a transplant of some kind are the people who should probably not be donating their organs on health grounds.

SirChenjin I do not need a lecture, as I know far too much about the subject myself.

I do not think that anyone should be discriminated against if they decide to opt out for whatever valid reason.