Organ Donation

gettingtheresometime

I really don't want to upset/offend anybody but was after some alternative viewpoints.

Many people outside (or even inside!) Wales may not realise that the way Organ Donation in Wales is changing on 1st December. So unless you expressly register that you do not want to be an organ donor after death then deemed consent will be assumed.

So far I haven't got a problem with this.

Where I do have a problem is the fact that it seems (and the organ donation people won't give me a straight yes or no answer - I wonder why?) is that it seems that the family of the deceased aren't asked for the final permission - in fact (and I quote) they claim that legally consent to organ donation is based on the views of the deceased but they also say legally there is no right of family to veto an organ donation decision whether that is one someone has registered or if they have chosen to do nothing and have their consent deemed

The way I interpret this is that unless you actively register that you don't then it doesn't matter what your family thinks .....and to be honest the fact they won't give me a straight yes no answer to the question whether the family would be asked (though they do say highly trained professionals to help them come to terms with the donor's decision (whatever that means!) means the family are presented with a done deal.

I've actually registered now that I don't want to be a donor (though I have told hubby if they ask they can have what ever bits they want) and this makes me quite sad.

Have I misinterpreted the rules and what you think you'd do?

GwylimT

Family members should never be able to deny a persons wishes, whether that organ donation or by contesting a will, family members who do such a thing are nothing more than selfish scum.

donnac2558

Agree with GwylimT, its my body it does not belong to my family. How dare they think of going against my wishes.

When I die(I am registered to give), then its not their business. I am a piece of death meat, if I can be used to help others that is wonderful.

Hermia

I completely agree with this. I don't want my family going against my wishes, especially as there are some relatives who don't believe in it for religious reasons that I obviously don't share. I imagine a lot of shocked bereaved relatives say no because in their emotional state they cannot bear the thought of their loved one being 'cut up'. Yet those same people would say yes normally. So, perhaps this is to help with that? I strongly believe in organ donation and feel I am the only one with a right to decide what is done with my body. I would be devastated to think someone wasn't helped because a religious or deeply grieving relative went against my wishes.

gettingtheresometime

Sorry guys I may have confused the issue. (and yes I do think that organ donation is a wonderful thing!)

The point I'm making is that in Wales the situation is changing; instead of being an opt in system you have to opt out. By not doing anything (either opting in or opting out) the default is that you've consented and the family aren't consulted (and yes I appreciate the sentiment that my family did anything I disagreed with after my death I'd come back and haunt them!)

Its this that I think is wrong

theoretica

I think that now you have registered not to be a donor that your verbal instructions to your husband will not be able to override that.

Part of the issue will be that they may need to act rapidly. If the system requires that they always ask the next of kin then organs may not be available for transplant just because it takes too long to get hold of the right person to ask (an estranged spouse for instance). I presume that if they make a habit of overriding relatives who are actually present then the bad publicity would lead to a lot more people opting out - and that the people who run the scheme have probably thought in great detail about this.

On a different note, why are the options presented opt in or opt out? Surely it wouldn't be that much extra effort to require people to put a choice either way on record?

glentoran99

theoretica wrote: »

I think that now you have registered not to be a donor that your verbal instructions to your husband will not be able to override that.

Part of the issue will be that they may need to act rapidly. If the system requires that they always ask the next of kin then organs may not be available for transplant just because it takes too long to get hold of the right person to ask (an estranged spouse for instance). I presume that if they make a habit of overriding relatives who are actually present then the bad publicity would lead to a lot more people opting out - and that the people who run the scheme have probably thought in great detail about this.

On a different note, why are the options presented opt in or opt out? Surely it wouldn't be that much extra effort to require people to put a choice either way on record?

And if they haven't expressed a wish?

glentoran99

gettingtheresometime wrote: »

Sorry guys I may have confused the issue. (and yes I do think that organ donation is a wonderful thing!)

The point I'm making is that in Wales the situation is changing; instead of being an opt in system you have to opt out. By not doing anything (either opting in or opting out) the default is that you've consented and the family aren't consulted (and yes I appreciate the sentiment that my family did anything I disagreed with after my death I'd come back and haunt them!)

Its this that I think is wrong

Why do you think its wrong that a persons wishes are carried out? If they don't opt out then they agree,


It makes it so much easier for the family who aren't exactly in a great state of mind to make that decision


I wholeheartedly agree with your in unless you say you are out, I don't care what happens to my organs after im gone but ive never signed up, and I suspect their are millions like me

PasturesNew

What if you're not from Wales? Lots of people passing through, visiting, etc. Do their bits get whipped out without a by-your-leave?

GwylimT

gettingtheresometime wrote: »

Sorry guys I may have confused the issue. (and yes I do think that organ donation is a wonderful thing!)

The point I'm making is that in Wales the situation is changing; instead of being an opt in system you have to opt out. By not doing anything (either opting in or opting out) the default is that you've consented and the family aren't consulted (and yes I appreciate the sentiment that my family did anything I disagreed with after my death I'd come back and haunt them!)

Its this that I think is wrong

If someone cannot be bothered to take themself off the register, they and their family have no right to complain

theoretica

glentoran99 wrote: »

And if they haven't expressed a wish?

That is my point - make people express a wish. Perhaps as part of registering with a doctor or for the NHS.

Personally, I think it would be fair if anyone who ticks the no box went several steps down the queue should they ever need a transplant themselves. Though that may well have repercussions I haven't thought of.