what're your reasons for not being on the organ donor registry?

brettcta

i have been on the organ donor register since i was 16. i have been speaking to people recently who aren't on it and got some rather bizarre responses (bizarre to me anyway). some people saying that they don't like the idea of being cut open when they die or 'god gave them to me, so they're mine'.

i agree with the sentiment that was banded around a few years ago that it should be an opt out system, rather than opt in. my own view is that once i'm dead, they'll be no use to me, so someone else (potentially more than one person) might aswell benefit from something that would otherwise rot away.

if you're not on the register, why not? what use are you going to have for your valuable organs when you're 6 feet under?

if you've never got round to doing it, http://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/ukt/ - it takes less than 5 minutes to sign up

skid112

somebody is bound to moan at the terrible state of my organs and put the vent on here

brettcta

ha

'I WAS CLOSE TO DEATH AND GOT A LIVER AND YOU WONT BELIEVE THE STATE OF THE BLOODY THING! CAN I SUE HIS FAMILY FOR STRESS? ALSO, THE NHS WONT ALLOW ME TO RETURN IT. AM I COVERED BY SECTION 75? WHAT'S SECTION 75?'

shellsuit

People shouldn't have to have a reason not to go on it, as I think it's a personal thing.

I've been on it since I was a teenager too, but my husband isn't and it's only something we spoke about a couple of weeks ago having been together for 10 years! He's still not sure about going on it and I respect that. It's his body, not mine.

Elle7

I'm not. I have always presumed I wouldn't be allowed to donate as I'm not allowed to give blood...I have never looked into it, though.

I planned to be on the list, and had my card ready to carry round when I got to 16, until I went to my grandma's funeral. I saw her lying in the house of rest...someone was sewing up her lips, and its haunted me ever since. She donated her eyes, which was horrific to look at before she was 'ready' to be seen, and she had massive scars where her organs had been removed. No one checked it was okay for me to go in at 7...I wanted to say goodbye, no one came with me.

She also had someone show us her lungs...covered in soot and blackness from smoking for years. I've never forgotten either, and it was an excellent (but very traumatic) way to stop us from ever smoking. Although it might have put me off death and organ donation too.

spadoosh

shellsuit wrote: »

People shouldn't have to have a reason not to go on it, as I think it's a personal thing.

I've been on it since I was a teenager too, but my husband isn't and it's only something we spoke about a couple of weeks ago having been together for 10 years! He's still not sure about going on it and I respect that. It's his body, not mine.

My g/f is very similar, doesnt like the idea of it at all. to which i normally reply 'your already gonna be cut up in tiny bits when you die'

giraffe69

I'm on the register. If you don't want to donate I don't think you should have to give anyone a reason as to why but I do think an opt out system would give a big boost to the number of available organs allowing those who feel strongly about not donating to be able not to do so without having to explain to anyone why they take this decision.

patd1967

i cant register as a organ donor,having had major chemo they dont like your organs. also cant donate blood due to the same problem even though i have a unusual blood condition which is quite rare. organ donation was something i wanted to do but like i say cant do now

EchoLocation

brettcta wrote: »

...so someone else (potentially more than one person) might aswell benefit from something that would otherwise rot away.

It's a shame that more people cannot see just how simple and literal the choice is really. You have the chance to save someone's life, but you'd rather just let your body rot instead? Seems a bit silly really.

Having said that, I do struggle with the 'opt out' proposal. I'm just not sure it's right, and certainly if it did happen they would need to make it absolutely effortless for anyone to opt out.

MamaMoo_2

I'd never really thought about organ donation until 18 months ago when a family member had a heart transplant.
He's now recovered enough to work again, to travel etc. Seeing someone I love waiting for months and months for a transplant, and all the let downs, I just thought "if I die tomorrow and I haven't registered for organ donation, I'd be potentially depriving a member of my own family from the chance to live" so I signed up.
I like to think that if ever anything happens to me, my family can gain comfort in the knowledge that bits that were now useless to me were giving someone a chance at life.

jojo2004

My mum hates the fact I'm on the organ donor register, as she's absolutely convinced that if you are, doctors won't work as hard to save you if you end up in hospital...

When I told a doctor friend this, she said that mum obviously hadn't been to an A&E recently, or she'd have seen that they don't have time for a cup of tea, let alone to search the wallet of every patient to see if they have a Donor Card!