Organ donation.....

[R1Geezer]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7729009.stm
It seems that a panel of "experts" have come to the conclusion that "Presumed donation" would not result in more organs becomming available for transplant. The organ Donorphiles have long been screaming their heads of about this, it seems the experts don't agree. Is there a better alternative to the current system? Any bright ideas? I'm personally against presumed donation but I wonder if there is any alternative at all to the current system.

[JustSia]

Not a solution or an alternative but an idea� Broadcast sort of a Big Brother kinda show, which documents exactly what happens once the body is buried and is, supposedly, resting in peace. I guess some lovely framed images of a body in a furnace would also serve that purpose. Now given a choice between liver-a-la-worm, poached cornea or giving someone a gift of life, I know which I would chose.

�Presumed Donation� is a great concept, however I only have one concern with it so far and that is, whilst you can possibly convince family members to donate their loved one�s organs, I doubt there would be many loop holes left if the deceased signed a Non Consent form.

Sia.

[rov1200]

What use are your organs to you... when dead. Its the living ill we should be worried about. Just reverse the current situation and carry a non-donor card. Relatives in grief will just have to get over it!

[R1Geezer]

yes rov but the experts dont think that will increase availability, that's the main point.

[rov1200]

Of course it will increase the availability. People are either just too lazy to collect and fill up a card. Others may ask whats in it for them. That's why the number of people carrying donor cards is so small.

[jake-the-peg]

The advice is based on the evidence from Spain where opt-out did not increase donations and did not rise to it's current level until other things were done such as employ councillors etc.

Therefore the advice was to do this first.

Obviously it's quite possible that *both* need to happen to achieve the desired result that's why the Government's said that it may introduce opt out if these measures don't work on their own.

Quite logical really.

In the UK 1,000 people die a day.

3 will donate organs

in Spain (which is the world leader) it's 12

It doesn't take a lot to make a huge difference.

Donate - tell your family - live on in someone else - let them live on in you

[R1Geezer]

so you know better than a "taskforce" of experts then rov, right oh!

I just need convincing you are dead when they take them jake and I think that is the main unsaid issue.

[phillipa.d]

Why do they say it wont increase availability? How come? I dont get that. Its bound to, isnt it?

How many people die per day, and what proportion of them carry donor cards?

I think perhaps you should opt out if you dont want your organs used... like rov1200 said, what use are they to you?

I carry one - my kidneys wont be any use to anyone, but they can have the rest!!!

[sara3]

the vast majority don't even give blood and can't think of a good reason why not.. I don't see any of them volunteering for this.

my argument? if someone was in front of you dying, would you then donate blood? or a member of your family? most would say yes, but why not then give it to an unknown donor??

it makes me really mad!

[rov1200]

Interestingly Spain has presumed consent donations:

quote:
Spain has 35 organ donors for every million people in its population - that is three times the UK rate of 12.9 per million

[rov1200]

Its just common sense R1Geezer. Don't always believe in the experts. I sometimes question Jake but I wouldn't mind his brain.

[phillipa.d]

i used to give blood, but cant any longer - but i have had transfusions, which prob saved my life, and would love to 'pay it back".

I agree with Rov, people are just too lazy, I think,,,

[jake-the-peg]

Geezer

http://www.dundee.ac.uk/forensicmedicine/notes /brstem.htm

The brain stem death tests must be performed by two medical practitioners.

The doctors involved should be experts in this field. Under no circumstances are brain stem death tests performed by transplant surgeons.

At least one of the doctors should be of consultant status. Junior doctors are not permitted to perform these tests.

Each doctor should perform the tests twice.


Register here:

http://www.uktransplant.org.uk/ukt/how_to_beco me_a_donor/registration/consent.jsp

[Panic Button]

I carry a donor card, and am on the register.

They can have whatever they want when I die, I don't care.

However I strongly disagree with presumed consent.

My body is mine, not the governments. It is not rented or lent to me, to be returned on my death.
It is mine, and is my most precious possession.

How dare anyone think they have a right to take parts from it without my consent,

Why should it be up to me to register my refusal and trust the system to retrieve this fact in an emergency?

[nedflanders]

I am on the register and donate blood. I am all for presumed consent. If people feel so strongly about not donating they can get off their lazy ar$e's and opt out!!!

1000 people a year die because they can't get an organ, it could be anyone's loved ones that need it tomorrow and we all have the capability to help.

[Quinlad]

For the simple reason that millions and millions of people are happy to donate their organs once they're dead, but they don't get round to signing up.

We're killing people with lethargy. And the lethargic ones would wince if they could look down fron heaven and see their body parts incinerated while someone needlessly dies.

I understand your argument perfectly and sympathise to an extent.

[Quinlad]

That was to Panic Button.

[R1Geezer]

Jake, thanks for that and if it was guarenteed to happen like that I'd be more comfortable about signing up. Like most things in the public sector, the procedure may well be flawless but the execution of said procedure usually leaves a lot to be desired.

[LoftyLottie]

I agree with Panic Button. It is up to me and my family what happens after my death. And I also would be devastated if I was not consulted if a loved one died and their body parts were used with their expressed consent.

It is the way I feel and I don't think I should have to carry an opt out card just to stop people from taking what doesn't belong to them.

[LoftyLottie]

'without' their expressed consent.

[gina32]

i think that if you had to fill in a card or register not to donate a lot of people would actaully do that rather tthan making the effort to donate even though they want to, if that makes sense