Questions About Organ Donation.

[Up_Tilt_390]

So it's now law that rather than opting into organ donations after your death, you now have to opt-out of organ donations. If I've understand that correctly. But one thing I'm not sure about is whether this would affect things such as kidney transplants.

Kidney transplants don't usually happen when someone is dead, so I wondered if when someone opted out, does that mean they're not eligible to give a kidney to someone they cared about unless they opt back into the organ donations after death again, or is it a separate thing all together?

I ask this because I've thought of opting-out, but I don't want to go unprepared for the day I might need to give a family member or friend a kidney or some blood in the case of them being matched. I would like to know whether anything such as those things are affected by the new legislation about organ donations. Thanks in advance for the best answers.

 

[eastwestdivide]

Where are you talking about? For England, the latest info I could find was from Oct 2017, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-41435255

(my bold)

A consultation on introducing an optout system for organ donation is to be held in England, ministers say.
Currently anyone who wants to donate their organs after death has to "opt in" through the donor card scheme.
But a new system, whereby it will be presumed an adult's body can be used in transplants in the absence of express permission, will now be considered.
Wales has already introduced an optout system, while Scotland has said it will be following suit.
The Welsh system - introduced in 2015 - is known as a soft optout, so if the individual's family objects, the removal of their organs does not take place.
In June, Scotland said it would be introducing a similar system, known as presumed consent.

 

[Up_Tilt_390]

Oh dear. I must’ve made a mistake on the legislation

 

[SS4]

Oh dear. I must’ve made a mistake on the legislation

You're thinking of Wales which did introduce an opt-out system in 2015. England does not have such a system and is still on opt-in.

I'm not sure about Scotland or NI

http://organdonationwales.org/FAQs/Organ-donation-from-december-2015/?lang=en

 

[furnessvale]

Whichever way it is, they will probably still retain the "relatives have the final say" clause, which loses so many potential donations even now.

 

[DarloRich]

So it's now law that rather than opting into organ donations after your death, you now have to opt-out of organ donations. If I've understand that correctly. But one thing I'm not sure about is whether this would affect things such as kidney transplants.

Kidney transplants don't usually happen when someone is dead, so I wondered if when someone opted out, does that mean they're not eligible to give a kidney to someone they cared about unless they opt back into the organ donations after death again, or is it a separate thing all together?

I ask this because I've thought of opting-out, but I don't want to go unprepared for the day I might need to give a family member or friend a kidney or some blood in the case of them being matched. I would like to know whether anything such as those things are affected by the new legislation about organ donations. Thanks in advance for the best answers.

You can have any pars of me that still works when I snuff it. I don't need them anymore - someone else might.

 

[Up_Tilt_390]

You can have any pars of me that still works when I snuff it. I don't need them anymore - someone else might.

Thanks but no. You'd be better giving them to someone else. If I've thought of opting out then I shouldn't expect someone to give me any of theirs. Double standards aren't my thing

 

[AlterEgo]

Thanks but no. You'd be better giving them to someone else. If I've thought of opting out then I shouldn't expect someone to give me any of theirs. Double standards aren't my thing

Just out of interest, why have you chosen not to donate?

 

[Up_Tilt_390]

Just out of interest, why have you chosen not to donate?

I haven't decided on anything yet. I'd stay on if I could be specific about who receives any organs after death (ie. just family).

 

[Darandio]

I haven't decided on anything yet. I'd stay on if I could be specific about who receives any organs after death (ie. just family).

That does seem quite selfish. Working on the basis that if nobody in your family needs them at the time of your death (which hopefully is a long way off!) then you just want the equivalent of them being thrown away? Even if it could either save or improve the quality of life for someone who really needs them at that point?

This is just a basic understanding of what I have quoted of course, you may well have interesting reasons for doing so.

 

[Up_Tilt_390]

That does seem quite selfish. Working on the basis that if nobody in your family needs them at the time of your death (which hopefully is a long way off!) then you just want the equivalent of them being thrown away? Even if it could either save or improve the quality of life for someone who really needs them at that point?

This is just a basic understanding of what I have quoted of course, you may well have interesting reasons for doing so.

I can see why you might think it’s a bit selfish. I’m not decided on what to do yet nor why I might. It would be reliant on family needing them at the time of my death (which I’m not actually afraid of no matter when it happens).

It’s kind of a moral/ethical dilemma of mine. I have a somewhat cynical and morbid view on humans, but it would feel like a waste if nobody in my family needed them and they got thrown away. I hate things going to waste. I genuinely do not know.

 

[pdeaves]

If ever I needed a donor organ, the last thing I would want is part of 'Uncle Bob' in me. Personally, I would rather receive from a complete stranger (no emotional attachment) and similarly would expect to donate to non-family (though not precluding family from benefiting, after all if I've gone it won't really matter to me).

Still, we're all different.

 

[DarloRich]

Thanks but no. You'd be better giving them to someone else. If I've thought of opting out then I shouldn't expect someone to give me any of theirs. Double standards aren't my thing

I dont think you get a choice who they give your organs to. Anyway, if i am dead i dont care who gets them. I dont need them anymore.

 

[GusB]

I can see why you might think it’s a bit selfish. I’m not decided on what to do yet nor why I might. It would be reliant on family needing them at the time of my death (which I’m not actually afraid of no matter when it happens).

It’s kind of a moral/ethical dilemma of mine. I have a somewhat cynical and morbid view on humans, but it would feel like a waste if nobody in my family needed them and they got thrown away. I hate things going to waste. I genuinely do not know.

Surely if you're dead, you're dead. You have no further need for the organs that you once carried around with you. Does it really matter if the recipients are family? You're not exactly going to be around to pick and choose. Either you choose to donate, or you don't. The time window for harvesting organs is so short, and the chances that a relative may need them at the same time are so slim.

If ever I needed a donor organ, the last thing I would want is part of 'Uncle Bob' in me. Personally, I would rather receive from a complete stranger (no emotional attachment) and similarly would expect to donate to non-family (though not precluding family from benefiting, after all if I've gone it won't really matter to me).

Still, we're all different.

Maybe your tissue type is so rare that the only one to help is Uncle Bob. Provided that he is happy to try to save your life, is aware of the risks, and the chances are that you'd both go on to live relatively normal lives, I fail to see the problem.

 

[najaB]

Kidney transplants don't usually happen when someone is dead, so I wondered if when someone opted out, does that mean they're not eligible to give a kidney to someone they cared about unless they opt back into the organ donations after death again, or is it a separate thing all together?

Even where 'opt out' exists, it only refers to presumed consent in the event of your death. While you are alive your organs are yours to do with as you choose.

 

[Darandio]

If ever I needed a donor organ, the last thing I would want is part of 'Uncle Bob' in me. Personally, I would rather receive from a complete stranger (no emotional attachment) and similarly would expect to donate to non-family (though not precluding family from benefiting, after all if I've gone it won't really matter to me).

Still, we're all different.

Is 'Uncle Bob' a bad man and you are worried that if you received an organ from him you would take on his traits and become like him?

A bit light hearted of course but i'm genuinely curious, i've seen similar accounts on t'interweb where people claim they would refuse a life saving donation from a particular person.

 

[northwichcat]

I haven't decided on anything yet. I'd stay on if I could be specific about who receives any organs after death (ie. just family).

With some organs even if someone related to you needs a replacement one, it might be your organs aren't a good match.

 

[Up_Tilt_390]

Even where 'opt out' exists, it only refers to presumed consent in the event of your death. While you are alive your organs are yours to do with as you choose.

Thanks for the information. That clears things up very well for me.

With some organs even if someone related to you needs a replacement one, it might be your organs aren't a good match.

So really the reasons for me saving my organs are limited and rely on set circumstances. I’m not religious so I have no religious objections either.