Great news amon all the doom and gloom

Disagree.

Don't get me wrong - I'm actually all in favour of organ donation and understand that many people are waiting for organs, some dying in the meantime. More people need to be encouraged to donate.

I just object to being told that my organs will be taken for donation and having to opt out (which I won't). It's the principal that annoys me, not the benefits for those who are in need.

I agree with Septimia.

I disagree too. I have signed up for organ donation as I do agree with it in principle but having read the whole leaflet that came with my donation form there were some things I didn’t agree with. I would not be happy with blanket opt in.

I think I would have to opt out and then try and opt back in to bits of it later somehow. Depends on how they go about it.

I agree with Septimia too, and think it’s a poor piece of legislation.Our bodies are our own and we should be able to say what happens to it.That being so, the opt in rather than out is a much better thing.

I agree jura - this will free up so many organs and save so many lives at a point when relatives shouldn’t be having to try and remember or imagine if their loved one wanted to donate. If I change my mind and decide I feel strongly about opting out at any point then I’ll do what I did when I decided I wanted to donate my organs and take that proactive step to note my choice.

so you can opt out- simple enough.

Dont forget to opt out of receiving too, just to be fair.

I wonder how many of those who disagree, have sat with loved ones, watching them die through lack of donors.

Who said that they wouldn’t donate organs?
It’s the principle that’s wrong.

Not that anyone would want our old organs anyway.

No jura I don’t think that is what we are saying. Many people (myself included) are currently listed as organ donors but don’t want to sign up to take what you want and do what you want with it. Not all organ donation is for transplants to other people (the bit I agree with). Part of it is for experimentation, tissue sampling and general usage, which is what I’m not so keen on. I would like to have a body, reasonably intact on the outside to bury. It is what I want and is my body. I’m not saying I won’t agree to donation but I would like a say in what is taken and how it is used because it matters to me.

Good point jura2. I’ve asked many people if they would refuse blood if they need it.
I don’t ask everyone by the way, only those who shudder and say things like- oh I don’t do needles!

They can have whatever they like from me. I won’t need it anymore.

Hopefully my family will never need a donor but who knows what may happen in the future. Being prepared to let other people live a restricted life or die because you want to make a point of some kind is selfish. I presume you wouldn’t accept a transplant if you were ever in that position?

I worked on a dialysis unit and it would be great to think there would be a lot less need for them in the future.

I may be mistaken but I was given to understand that when you reached a certain age (perhaps in your sixties) your organs wouldn't be needed as they prefer those from young people.

Oh! That rules me out then by a long way.?

well yes, but pretty irrelevant to the general principles.

btw experimentation is massively important to finding new treatments and saving more lives, and so is tissue sampling.

Sadly 'the principle' or current system, is just not working. I am always amazed that couples, families, do not discuss how they feel about donation. Mine now how I feel, and have been asked to tell medical staff, before being asked- that I am a donor. But sadly, most people never discuss it. Taboo, fears, superstition, etc ...

Even when old, you can still give many body parts btw.

I am on the organ donation register and think having to opt out is much better than relatives having to make the decision at a difficult time.

I have always told my family anyone can have anything of mine if it's still working!

What if it is your AC or DGC that have their organs harvested because they hadn’t used the opt out?
Am hoping that before they did it, they would still ask the nearest relative for permission, but you never know.

Dont forget to opt out of receiving too, just to be fair.

Good point jura.

You have to be over 18 to be part of the opt out approach, so unless your DGC are children it won’t affect them. Young people tend to have very altruistic views on organ donation but it’s worth having a conversation about organ donation as a family if people haven’t already done so.

Much better to be the family having the conversation about donating than receiving.

I am on the organ donation register and think having to opt out is much better than relatives having to make the decision at a difficult time.

They will still ask the family. And the family will still be able to refuse. There's been many organs not harvested due to the family being unable to agree to the removal.

I signed up many years ago for organ donation. I don’t know what it says on the current leaflet.
I feel that when you’re dead, it really doesn’t matter what happens to any bits of you because they either rot in the ground or are burnt up.
If they can help others in any way, whether body parts, research, whatever, it must be for the good.
When you hear relatives of organ donors saying how it has given hope to several other sick people, it must make it all seem not such a waste.

It's very complicated. It's a heartbreaking time. Obviously the patient is on Life Support so to all intents and purposes looks 'alive'.

To be asked about organ donation can just be too much for some relatives. They are losing their adored loved one. They aren't thinking straight. They are grief stricken.

It's all very well to suggest they should donate in case they need to receive one day but life isn't that black and white.

I've seen cases where it's been impossible to harvest the organs due to the family. Even families who have discussed this with their relatives. For some it is just impossible.

Of course it's tragic that good organs go to waste but it's going to happen, whether it's opt in or out.

www.organdonation.nhs.uk/get-involved/news/families-saying-no-to-donation-results-in-missed-transplant-opportunities-for-uk-patients/