Organ Donor Register

[David Guiza]

As some of you may have seen on social networking sites, a young lady and friend of mine sadly lost her battle with Cystic Fibrosis yesterday, following a long campaign to get more people onto the donor list who have previously not considered it. I understand that some people will never join due to a number of reasons, but I felt that any opportunity to gain even just 1 person has to be taken.

She was recently on East Midlands Today explaining more about it - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfSsRBsG-OQ.

http://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/how_to_become_a_donor/

 

[ADK]

Sorry to hear that about your friend.

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Everybody should be registered on the organ donor list as standard, you should opt out if you so wish. Nothing wrong with choosing to opt out, but if you are against it, it should be you who makes the choice whilst you can. Otherwise, giving an organ to help another should be a given.

[David Guiza]

Thanks very much ADK. And I completely agree; whilst it stays this way people will continue to go through their lives and not take the 2minutes that it takes just to register. It would be equally as easy to opt out under a new system, so anybody who feels the need to do so can do.

[Tom17LCFC]

Sorry to hear mate. I'm assuming we have a lot of mutual friends because a lot of my mates knew her, shows how popular she was as well! I've never considered it before but will be signing up now!

[Bellend Sebastian]

Presumed consent will be adopted at some point (our forward thinking Welsh cousins being the first to agree to bring it in - well done, boyos) but in the meantime y'all need to pull your chubby/gnarled fingers out and get signed up.  It's also helpful to advise your nearest and dearest that it's very much your wish to be an organ donor as it can supposedly cut down on mucking about should there ever be a situation where there's a need to harvest your organs.  Personally, when I go, if the medics want to whip out my eyes and kick them about for no reason other than it's good for morale, that's fine by me, but I understand that there are a myriad of far more useful purposes that the various bits of your body can fulfil when you don't need them anymore.

 

What could be nobler than in death providing someone else with a chance of life?

 

Sorry to hear about your friend, DG.

[David Guiza]

Presumed consent will be adopted at some point (our forward thinking Welsh cousins being the first to agree to bring it in - well done, boyos) but in the meantime y'all need to pull your chubby/gnarled fingers out and get signed up.  It's also helpful to advise your nearest and dearest that it's very much your wish to be an organ donor as it can supposedly cut down on mucking about should there ever be a situation where there's a need to harvest your organs.  Personally, when I go, if the medics want to whip out my eyes and kick them about for no reason other than it's good for morale, that's fine by me, but I understand that there are a myriad of far more useful purposes that the various bits of your body can fulfil when you don't need them anymore.

 

What could be nobler than in death providing someone else with a chance of life?

 

Sorry to hear about your friend, DG.

Completely agree with everything you say and thanks; at the end of the video I posted, the expert refers to many countries in Europe having the soft opt out policy. Whilst we're such a forward thinking country in many respects, there are still aspects such as this that need to be assessed asap.  

And thanks very much Tom, I've seen literally hundred of reposts/retweets regarding both her and the register, she and others in a similar situation would be delighted by the impact; it's a shame it takes something like this however.

[MikeyT]

Been registered for as long as I can remember. Think every one should be.

Very sorry about your friend. 

[RonnieTodger]

I knew Emma vaguely, as I was in the year below her at school, and she was very close with a friend of mine. The reaction to what has happened has been staggering. People that didn't know her, from all over have been inspired by her and have been signing up rapidly. I was a bit sceptical when selecting "all organs or tissue" when filling out a form for a provisional driving licence, but sometimes it takes a tragedy to open your eyes. Inspiring young woman and she always appeared so optimistic about everything

 

May she rest in piece.

[Guest MattP]

Sorry for your loss.

 

I am a donor card holder but I really don't agree with the opt out policy, the state doesn't own your body dead or alive.

 

More education is needed about the help you can give people and then they will sign up voluntarily, putting it onto the curriculum and sending out a donor card to everyone who is 21 would suffice and you could sign up and give your permission online these days.

 

The government will end up taking your house and car when you die unless you have decided to opt out soon.

[Bellend Sebastian]

Sorry for your loss.

 

I am a donor card holder but I really don't agree with the opt out policy, the state doesn't own your body dead or alive.

 

More education is needed about the help you can give people and then they will sign up voluntarily, putting it onto the curriculum and sending out a donor card to everyone who is 21 would suffice and you could sign up and give your permission online these days.

 

The government will end up taking your house and car when you die unless you have decided to opt out soon.

 

The irony is that I will insist on both my house and car being either burned or buried in the ground on my death

[Guest MattP]

The irony is that I will insist on both my house and car being either burned or buried in the ground on my death

 

I used to work with a pensioner who had about £500,000 in the bank and he had instructed his lawyer to do that to his money if he died, very strange man.

[David Guiza]

I knew Emma vaguely, as I was in the year below her at school, and she was very close with a friend of mine. The reaction to what has happened has been staggering. People that didn't know her, from all over have been inspired by her and have been signing up rapidly. I was a bit sceptical when selecting "all organs or tissue" when filling out a form for a provisional driving licence, but sometimes it takes a tragedy to open your eyes. Inspiring young woman and she always appeared so optimistic about everything

 

May she rest in piece.

I've been equally as overwhelmed; it's such a shame that it takes something like this to make people realise what can happen to people they know and love, but at least a positive has came out of it and I'm sure she would be so proud of what she's managed to achieve.

 

I see where you're coming from MattP, after all you should have the say over what happens to your own body. However, as long as folk are made aware of how to opt out I think it could make a huge difference. We are all aware of how bone idle some people can be, something as simple as going onto the internet and clicking a few buttons to potentially save a life/lives will forever be too much hard work for some.

[RonnieTodger]

I've been equally as overwhelmed; it's such a shame that it takes something like this to make people realise what can happen to people they know and love, but at least a positive has came out of it and I'm sure she would be so proud of what she's managed to achieve.

 

I see where you're coming from MattP, after all you should have the say over what happens to your own body. However, as long as folk are made aware of how to opt out I think it could make a huge difference. We are all aware of how bone idle some people can be, something as simple as going onto the internet and clicking a few buttons to potentially save a life/lives will forever be too much hard work for some.

Spot on mate. 

[DennisNedry]

I'd become a donor if I could choose who my organs went to before I died!

 

I wouldn't, for example, want an alcoholic to get my liver over somebody who didn't drink.

Or I wouldn't want my organs to help a criminal or a lowlife who would just abuse the donated organs until they needed a new transplant etc.

[Guest MattP]

 

I see where you're coming from MattP, after all you should have the say over what happens to your own body. However, as long as folk are made aware of how to opt out I think it could make a huge difference. We are all aware of how bone idle some people can be, something as simple as going onto the internet and clicking a few buttons to potentially save a life/lives will forever be too much hard work for some.

 

I still could be convinced on it, it just sits a little uncomfortably that the state can butcher someones organs after they have died because they didn't bother to fill in a form. Something about it just sits uncomfortable.

 

I'd become a donor if I could choose who my organs went to before I died!

 

I wouldn't, for example, want an alcoholic to get my liver over somebody who didn't drink.

Or I wouldn't want my organs to help a criminal or a lowlife who would just abuse the donated organs until they needed a new transplant etc.

 

Absolutely and this is essential to the new system.

 

I stated a long time ago when I got the card that my family should refuse permission if they can't guarantee my organs won't be going to someone who has committed a serious offence or has been guilty of serious substance abuse.

[Les-TA-Jon]

We really should be changing to opt out. As it stands when you haven't been bothered to get register, your organs could go to waste, resulting in unnecessary suffering or death. With presumed consent anyone who actually cares/wants to actively cause unneccessary suffering/death can opt out. It's quite simple. Plus the change over to presumed consent will bring about a large public debate about it - so most people will get the chance to think about their stance and then act accordingly. 

 

I am a donor card holder but I really don't agree with the opt out policy, the state doesn't own your body dead or alive.

 

Is that really the case? I don't think presumed consent is synonymous with "the state now owns your body dead or alive". I think it's more "The state is going to make the assumption that you are morally ok with helping out another human being after your body can do no more for yourself." It's also making the assumption that if you really care otherwise you'll tell me them no. 

 

It's a moral choice as far as I'm concerned. Ask yourself, if you were in need of an organ, would you want to:

 

1 - Die

2 - Live

 

If you're answer is number 2, then you should be on the register. 

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I still could be convinced on it, it just sits a little uncomfortably that the state can butcher someones organs after they have died because they didn't bother to fill in a form. Something about it just sits uncomfortable.

 

 

Absolutely and this is essential to the new system.

I stated a long time ago when I got the card that my family should refuse permission if they can't guarantee my organs won't be going to someone who has committed a serious offence or has been guilty of serious substance abuse.

 

This is a good point actually. Why donate your liver to George Best (for example), if he's gonna continue on the piss. There needs to be some limit on who gets an organ after its donated.

[GLC]

I'm an organ doner, for me it's one of the positives I can do when i die!

If I can save someone's life with my organs, then by all means take them, they need them more than I do

[pSinatra]

Sorry to hear about the loss of your friend.

 

A few years ago, I was on a CPC Driver training course which involved everyone giving the tutor our driving license details.  I had a '115' code on my license which nobody else had & nobody knew what it meant (including the tutor).  The tutor went away & found out that the code was because I'm an organ donor.  So out of a class of around 15 people, I was the only donor in the room.  I found it quite staggering & I wouldn't like to think that this is a reflection of a such a low percentage of possible donors.

 

If there's anything you want & if it can help someone else after I have no use for it...........help yourself!!  What possible reason would anyone have for not being a donor?

[Parafox]

I too am a donor. Partly because of my job, it made me realise a long time ago that those unfortunate enough to need any spare organ, from corneas to a heart+lung, are in a desperate situation where each day is a waiting game to see if they get "lucky".

 

When you apply on-line for your Road Fund Licence, there is a link to allow you to register. Do it, people.

[Parafox]

Sorry to hear about the loss of your friend.

 

A few years ago, I was on a CPC Driver training course which involved everyone giving the tutor our driving license details.  I had a '115' code on my license which nobody else had & nobody knew what it meant (including the tutor).  The tutor went away & found out that the code was because I'm an organ donor.  So out of a class of around 15 people, I was the only donor in the room.  I found it quite staggering & I wouldn't like to think that this is a reflection of a such a low percentage of possible donors.

 

If there's anything you want & if it can help someone else after I have no use for it...........help yourself!!  What possible reason would anyone have for not being a donor?

 

 

Religion.

[Guest MattP]

We really should be changing to opt out. As it stands when you haven't been bothered to get register, your organs could go to waste, resulting in unnecessary suffering or death. With presumed consent anyone who actually cares/wants to actively cause unneccessary suffering/death can opt out. It's quite simple. Plus the change over to presumed consent will bring about a large public debate about it - so most people will get the chance to think about their stance and then act accordingly. 

 

 

Is that really the case? I don't think presumed consent is synonymous with "the state now owns your body dead or alive". I think it's more "The state is going to make the assumption that you are morally ok with helping out another human being after your body can do no more for yourself." It's also making the assumption that if you really care otherwise you'll tell me them no. 

 

It's a moral choice as far as I'm concerned. Ask yourself, if you were in need of an organ, would you want to:

 

1 - Die

2 - Live

 

If you're answer is number 2, then you should be on the register. 

 

I think that's a bit simplistic and certainly can't agree with your point that anyone who doesn't want their body butchered after death "wants to actively cause unneccessary suffering" as you put it.

 

Like I say I'm a donor myself but I'm more concerned by state intervention than ever into people's life at the minute, saying we are having your body after death unless you sign a few form is something even the Russian or Chinese governments wouldn't dare enforce.

[Parafox]

I think that's a bit simplistic and certainly can't agree with your point that anyone who doesn't want their body butchered after death "wants to actively cause unneccessary suffering" as you put it.

 

Like I say I'm a donor myself but I'm more concerned by state intervention than ever into people's life at the minute, saying we are having your body after death unless you sign a few form is something even the Russian or Chinese governments wouldn't dare enforce.

 

 

I think that's acompletely different issue. There's nothing sisnister about this in the UK. The government aren't issuing a directive, they would be giving us the choice. A person would always be able to opt out.

[Guest MattP]

I think that's acompletely different issue. There's nothing sisnister about this in the UK. The government aren't issuing a directive, they would be giving us the choice. A person would always be able to opt out.

 

It's something that should be opt in though, I firmly believe that and better education is needed to secure more donors.

 

I carry a card and I'm tempted to opt out on principle if this comes in.