Organ Register: Opt in or Opt out.

[sabrown100]

Should organ donation be an opt-in, an opt-out - or just easier to register?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7183559.stm

[Synthesis]

I think we had a topic about this some time ago.

While it would be very hard to argue a case for mandatory organ harvesting from the dead (the pro-argument being--"there are living people who are not dead whom we'd like to keep alive, at the presumed expense of the dead", a central tenant of modern medicine), I personally believe people should be defaulted to the organ registry. If they have any objections, then they can go through the process of removing themselves. It's completely up to them.

Of course, you could easily argue that even this is a violation of people's rights--but we violate peoples "rights" in the name of public health quite frequently (going from bans on public smoking to forbidding corporations from exercising their "right" to dump hazardous materials on their own lands for the monetary benefit of their shareholders). It wouldn't be the first time.

I'm a registered organ donor. In the event of my death, I have no objection to hospitals taking every organ in my body (and, if they really wanted it, my body as a whole, though I don't think I'd be much good for scientific research)--I personally think of it one last obligation for the betterment of my fellow man. However, I plan to have myself cremated in my country of birth, like everyone else in my family, and this influences my decision. People who decline being on the organ registry usually sometimes (not always) state their reasoning as being interested in being buried in the ground (and presumably, with the sort of public funeral that accompanies that, "open casket", etc.).

This confuses me a little bit--I might just be missing the whole point though. Even if you're going to be buried, aren't people usually stuffed with sterile filling products after having all their liquid drain--your kidneys, liver, and other potentially useful organs are all basically mulched anyway, right? It'd make little difference if you body was devoid of any organs or marrow in the inside.

Still, it does have to do with one's rights. Even in our society of extreme economic disparity, one's internal organs are one of the few things one has a truly secure ownership over, you could say. I just find it odd that people are willing to take that ownership to the grave, and beyond.

[Doddibot]

I think we had a topic about this some time ago.
Indeed. sabrown100 started that one too (http://forums.sims2community.com/showthread.php?t=48302)!

[sachinhaa]

It should be the persons choice. I'm a registered donor.
I understand the reasons why some people choose not to, but people have to realize it saves lives.

[DarkestBlu]

I don't think I ever really understood the reasoning behind NOT being an organ donor. Truthfully I haven't heard too many reasons (the only one, recently, being my grandmother saying "I want to leave here the same way I came in, with everything intact!"). Some people say religion, but I don't see what this has to do with anything. It may sound harsh, but you're dead. You're not using them. Will it really hurt you to give someone else a chance at life? Though I would love if someone explained the other side of the coin for me.

[Synthesis]

Truthfully I haven't heard too many reasons (the only one, recently, being my grandmother saying "I want to leave here the same way I came in, with everything intact!").

Frankly, I don't understand that attitude either....by that definition, your grandmother should also pass up a free kidney transplant, even if it was her only chance for survival, or for that matter, refuse to have her appendix removed if it burst (thereby almost certainly ensuring her own death from her body poisoning herself).

After all, it was there when she "came in"!

[davious]

I am not currently an registered organ donor, but, I don't have any issues with people saying "my body is dead, I don't need it anymore, if you can use my heart, kidneys, or whatever, go for it". I don't think it should be compulsory though, just voluntary.

[crocobaura]

Meh, your body is not dead, only your brain is dead, or your heart just stopped pumping and they keep you on life support until when they harvest the organs, otherwise they're no good.

[davious]

The article in the original post says its post-death...

[~Charlotte~]

I can understand the reasoning behind not wanting to become donor - call me crazy but the thought of parting with my organs even when I'm dead feels a little bit strange. However, I am registered as a donor, but that doesn't mean that when I die they'll automatically be allowed to take my organs - it's up to my family that decides that so I guess that leaves us wondering why we had to register to become donors in the first place....

[crocobaura]

The article in the original post says its post-death...


Well, if your brain stopped working or your heart stopped beating, you are dead. The organs, however, only need oxygen to survive and remain fresh for time after the death has been confirmed. So, only in case you died while connected to a life support system that helped to preserve the blood flow and oxygen supply to the organs, the doctors could harvest the organs, otherwise they deteriorate and die themselves if no fresh oxygen is present. This means that you need to actually die in a hospital.

[jhd1189]

Indeed. sabrown100 started that one too (http://forums.sims2community.com/showthread.php?t=48302)!

*Sigh* Thank you, Doddibot... I had a feeling that one of those already existed, but I had never physically seen it, so it was just a guess. It's all taken care of now.

[NVRaptor_SC]

I think Steven Wright (and maybe Rodney Dangerfield) said it best; when I die I'm going to leave my body to science fiction.

[longears15]

I think an 'opt-out' system is the way to go. I'm sure that a lot of people are not registered organ donors just because they don't know how to register or cannot be bothered. The 'presumed consent' system would get all of those people onto the register whilst still allowing those who don't want to donate their organs to remove themselves from the register. In any case, I believe that it is the family who get the final say whether the person is on the register or not.

All I can say is, if I were in a situation where an organ transplant could save my life, I'd take it. Why then, should I deny other people that chance if my organs are suitable for transplantation when I die? The other alternative I'd consider is donating my body to research- I've got a fairly rare and very poorly understood disease, and if that could give other sufferers a chance at improved treatment or even cure, I'd happily do it. Afterall, I'm not going to be around to care about it...

[DarkestBlu]

When I found out that my family had to consent to my organs being used, I'll be honest, I was quite upset. That really does negate the process of becoming an organ donor. What about those family members who don't agree with your decision for whatever reason? Do they get the final say in what happens to your body? I'm pretty sure, if left up to my mother, she'd tell them no. I'm in full agreement with the "opt-out" system, so long as your word is final. I don't want any family member to decide they're going to have the last laugh and keep someone else for getting my no-longer-needed organs.

[Synthesis]

I am not currently an registered organ donor, but, I don't have any issues with people saying "my body is dead, I don't need it anymore, if you can use my heart, kidneys, or whatever, go for it". I don't think it should be compulsory though, just voluntary.

With the opt-out system, it wouldn't be a matter of declaring, "You are dead, selflessness is mandatory." There would still be the option to refuse, so it's still voluntary.

[davious]

okay, thats fine by me then. I just didn't want to support something that would have made it mandatory.

[Simmer!]

I think opt out is a better system as there are loads of people who want their organs to be donated yet haven't got around to getting on the register.

[lockshockbarrel]

I think opt out is a better system as there are loads of people who want their organs to be donated yet haven't got around to getting on the register.

Exactly what I was going to post.

[DarkestBlu]

On the other side of the coin, though, shouldn't it be the donor's responsibility to sign up? If this is something they want to do, then shouldn't they be responsible for signing up?

[lockshockbarrel]

On the other side of the coin, though, shouldn't it be the donor's responsibility to sign up? If this is something they want to do, then shouldn't they be responsible for signing up?

True, but if someone is REALLY opposed to it, they'll opt out. Someone who's ambivalent about it won't sign up, and then all their organs will go to waste.

[DarkestBlu]

Even though I'm in favor of an opt-out system, I still think that more responsibility needs to be placed on those who want to BE organ donors. Things aren't always going to be easy, they'll be a hassle at times. Just because someone is ambivalent about being an organ donor, though, doesn't mean we can default them to organ donor. If the person doesn't care one way or the other, leave them out of it. The organ donor list is supposed to be for people who have made up their mind and want to donate their organs.

[Synthesis]

Even though I'm in favor of an opt-out system, I still think that more responsibility needs to be placed on those who want to BE organ donors. Things aren't always going to be easy, they'll be a hassle at times. Just because someone is ambivalent about being an organ donor, though, doesn't mean we can default them to organ donor. If the person doesn't care one way or the other, leave them out of it. The organ donor list is supposed to be for people who have made up their mind and want to donate their organs.

An understandable sentiment, but I don't think we have that luxury in this country--there are shortages of everything from blood to kidneys, and while it might be nice if organs only came from people who genuinely cared, the fact is that the human body doesn't care about the thought behind the organ, just the organ itself. And while we're think about how nice it would be if people cared, there are people on dialysis machines who are dying.

[DarkestBlu]

True. I don't know why I have this uneasy feeling about people who are ambivalent being defaulted to the list. In an opt-out system, that's what'd be happening anyway. Unfortunately, most people just don't care. I guess that's why the opt-out system would be best. But then would everyone be on the list? Or would people be screened for diseases or abnormalities and only the best potential donors would remain on the list?

Unfortunately, I don't see this actually happening in real life. While it would be nice, I can see all sorts of "advocate" groups coming out of the woodwork to talk about how evil or wrong or "infringing on my personal rights" this is. The government is Big Brother and they're invading your kidneys!