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

EchoLocation

Just heard this gem from Jack Dee on QI...

"I carry a Donor card, but it's not signed as I want someone else to have use of it when I've died".

rustyboy21

heretolearn wrote: »

It's a personal choice but as far as I'm concerned you are either for it or against it. If you feel organ donation is wrong and you wouldn't let anything of yours be used, that's your prerogative and people should respect that. I also feel though that you have chosen to not participate in any way, so you shouldn't be able to receive anything either. If you don't believe in donation, you don't believe in receiving either, right?

yeah, right, most of those who refuse to donate to others would still want to be top of the queue if they ever needed anything. That's so incredibly selfish.

I think the main reason behind the opting -out programme is that if you are totally against donating, then you would register to opt out. It then means anyone who hasn't opted out has their relatives asked to donate, stating that the deceased didn't opt out. This gives the relatives the opportunity to refuse. It is easier to get someone to object, than it is to get someone to agree to something. Look at all the complainers on this site! It is like your medical records being computerised now, so any hospital/GP can access your main records for illnesses and meds, you have to opt out of that, has worked a lot better than opting in.

It makes it that the doctor has to ask the question at time of death, but the family has final say. Doctors have said they find it difficult to approach the subject as it may be deemed heartless now, but would feel better about asking if it was mandatory for them to do so.

Anyone who carries a donor card, who hasn't discussed it with their family and stated their wishes, may as well just be carrying it around as a status symbol. You have to discuss your wishes with your family and get them to agree to them.

The poster Shellsuit..... Well you may as well throw yours away Hun, you ain't got a chance of donating if your hubby is so much against it, it's a waste of time having it !

kizkiz

Had a card for as long as i can remember, and all family are well aware that i wan them to take anythign of use whn i'm dead
I fully intend living forever, so probably won't have anything of use

Incidentally, i can understand religious reasons for not donating, but nobody has yet put forward any other reason
I'd be genuinely interested to hear why people would not want to help others

brettcta

Alex-Riley. wrote: »

I know people will find this weird if one of my organs was to fail I would not want a organ from a dead person (or a living person if that's possible) because I don't know what they did with those organs

that's all well and good and i know where you're coming from, but i find it very difficult to believe that if you were on the cusp of death that you'd refuse a donor organ that would save you and give you a new lease of life

brettcta

Oliver14 wrote: »

Why be so off hand and dismissive with peoples feelings?

I actually find your whole post pretty offensive. Your statements about organs rotting away totally dismiss how people feel. If it doesn't matter what happens after your dead why was there the major search and trying to piece piece victims bodies together after 9/11 if it doesn't matter why all the fuss? Why do the soldiers bodies get flown home if it doesn't matter what happen is after your dead. It may not matter to you but it matters to those left behind.

As for the opt out scheme. I personally think any government should not have default power over my body. That's a dangerous road to go down. Giving of organs is a wonderful gift people can give but it should be that a gift and a choice.

And no I'm not on the register which is just my moral choice. As is the choice of other members of my family to be on the register.

I must admit I'm sick to death of this holier than than thou attitude people seem to have and the implications that your just being rather silly if your not on the register.

Peoples feelings matter even if you don't understand them.

echolocation gave a very good response to this. they are two very different scenarios. as EL said, organ donation doesn't stop you saying goodbye to somebody.

if everyone developed moral choices over organ donation (a moral choice to deny someone a life-saving kidney or liver), there would be a lot more of us saying our goodbyes sooner than we have to.

Mupette

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.

I don't have a choice.. I Can't donate

fuzzybear01 wrote: »

The only absolute contra-indications to donation are HIV disease (used to be known as full blown AIDS) and infection with CJD. You can be a donor if you are infected with HIV but don't have a related disease. If your organs are not suitable then tissue can be donated. Small parts of bone/skin etc can be donated. The skin that is taken is so thin that it will just look like sunburn, and a prosthesis will be inserted in the place of any bone that is removed.

you forgot auto immune diseases, i can't because of MS and Uvitis.. you get rejected for everything even though parts of me might be suitable..

brettcta

you could ask them to take something anyway, just so you don't feel left out

Humphrey10

Mupette, and anyone who can't donate organs for transplant, if you did want to donate your organs, you can donate your body or organs for research instead http://www.hta.gov.uk/bodyorganandtissuedonation.cfm

bluenoseam

Given my medical history i would expect i would be barred but even if not i would not be on the list, if i do decide to donate my organs anywhere it would be to research - much better to offer the basis of life saving treatment to thousands than to use it all for one family, while i appreciate that will grate some people, if it's a choice between saving 1 life or 10000, i'd much sooner save 10000.

GlasweJen

My heart came from a 35 year old woman who died in a road accident.

Even as a recipient of a donor organ I wouldn't make donation mandatory (not that this is the plan anyway), nor would I judge anyone who didn't want to donate. It's a personal thing. Some people don't want to give away their deceased relatives clothes/ furniture until months after the funeral so to give away an actual part of the person is huge.

I was never on the organ donation list, autoimmune disease