Great news amon all the doom and gloom

1.8 on the other hand, we found considerable evidence highlighting the potential downside of such a mov
1.9 The clinical Working group heard persuasive arguments from health professionals about the potentially negative implications for clinical practice, especially the potential to damage the vital relationship of trust between clinicians caring for people at the end of life, their patients and their families. some intensive care staff in particular fear that a move to an opt out system would make critical care more difficult and could lead to some intensive care practitioners themselves opting out of participation in donation programmes. This would be disastrous for the futureof organ donation in the uK since many of the recommendations made by the Taskforce in its earlier report, organs for Transplants, are dependent on the active support of intensive care practitioners

Just one here Baggs but there are others, this is from the Report by the Organ Donation Taskforce.
You could also look at the figures for countries such as Spain and (I think Wales)

I think jura's idea was that people should be willing to be donors if they wish, should circumstances require it, to be organ receivers. I don't think there was any suggestiion that people who have received organs would then be expected to be donors.

That's my understanding anyhow.

I don't agree with jura's suggestion, btw. It's a bit primitively authoritarian for my liking.

Out of interest, if you have received a donated organ, the strict drug regime including immunosuppression you will be on following the transplant is likely to render you absolutely unsuitable to be a donor at any stage in the future.

Do you have references for that claim, please, maw?

Thank you for your insight, MawB

I do not think that this is a simple issue at all.
Interesting that the "opt out" course does not result in an increase in the supply.

God knows I should have as much or more reason than most to be for organ donations- Paw was blessed with nearly 20 more years after his liver transplant in 1998 -20 years which let him see our three daughters happily married and the birth of 4 of our 5 grandchildren, instead of excruciating liver failure and what he described (having seen other poor souls on the Hepatology Ward) as “fried brains”
But and this is a big but, it appears that where organ donation is an “opt out” it does not result in an increase in the supply of organs for transplantation.
So not a simple issue at all.

I do not think that anyone should be discriminated against if they decide to opt out for whatever valid reason.

SirChenjin I do not need a lecture, as I know far too much about the subject myself.

I feel strongly that if you are not prepared to give, in principle, you should not be prepared to receive
I'm sorry to disagree, jura but those people who may be in most need of a transplant of some kind are the people who should probably not be donating their organs on health grounds.

What you have written is interesting to read, doodle. It is good to know how other people feel even if one doesn't really understand it.

I think if enough people spell out their feelings and objections it should be possible for adjustments to be made to the general expectation of the new approach.

Meanwhile there may well be enough who don't opt out for whatever reason so that there is no shortage of organs or research material.

‘Us/we’ as in at societal level Callistemon. It requires buy in from us all (or not) in order to make it work for everyone who needs organs (or may need them at some point in the future). If/when it becomes the norm then perhaps attitudes will change so that it’s a natural conversation at the end of life.

Both my body and OHs will be donated for science.

When I told my daughter she said: " great, if Dad goes before you it leaves more money in the pot for us"

I told her she can have the body back after 3 years: she said "nah" ?

Ridiculous original post. You are taking it for granted that everyone else agrees with you. How overly self important.

and of course : 'I wonder if your medical history is carefully checked before organs are used?'

BTW I am not allowed to give blood in Switzerland or France, as I lived in the UK due to the CJD crisis. I could give organs, as they can be thoroughly flushed of all blood products.

But it's not up to 'us', SirChenjin.

We can register, express our desire, inform our family.

But it is down to the relatives at the end of the day.

What would you do with the family of, say, a 23 year old motorbike accident victim, who just can't agree to this procedure? They can't bear the thought of their loved one's organs being removed. They're inconsolable.

Would you just ignore them and remove?

What sort of country would that make us?

Many people feel as you do Baggs others like me would like to feel that my body remained intact (albeit minus organs) on the outside. An open casket with a hacked about body inside would not be a pleasant sight even for even the hardiest people to cope with.
I am not saying that those who don’t care what happens to their body should not opt in to organ donation (as mentioned previously I am currently an organ donor on a register site where my specific feelings have been taken into account)
Also my DH who has had many operations has always agreed to experimental surgery and procedures in order that it may help or benefit others. I am religious and know that organ donation is not against my religion but it brings with it certain feelings about my body and as it is my body I feel I should have the right in the new opt in system to say exactly what I would and wouldn’t like to happen to it. For example I wouldn’t like bits of me sitting in a jam jar on someone’s shelf for years. I would just like to be treated with a bit of respect. If people didn’t care about the bodies of their loved ones then there would not be such a fuss when body parts are uncovered in hospitals years after people have died.
jura we have discussed our wishes with our children and they are well aware that both me and my DH are currently on the organ donation register.

Callistemon: ''No, it is not.
That means that a sick person must offer to become a donor before being eligible to receive a much-needed donation.''

of course not - it means you should not have officially opted out of the system (of course, this is not the case- just my take on it. I feel strongly that if you are not prepared to give, in principle, you should not be prepared to receive).

Which already does limit availibility, chen, and which is why this opt out rule is being suggested. It has been suggested before.

I think we need to decide whether we want to be part of a society where we all benefit from increased access to organs (which in turn means accepting that we are required to donate our no longer needed bodies after death) or whether we feel that ‘others’ should provide them which in turn will limit availability.

The world isn't ideal either. Ideally we wouldn't need an opt out register, but we do because, as some have already suggested, people just don't get around to opting in.

Try as I might I find I don't understand the worry some people have about what happens to their body after they're dead. I accept that this is the case but I just don't get it. This is a plain statement of fact about how I feel, not a judgment.

Well said, momb.

I've left my entire body to be used to practice dissection, or whatever it is they do. I hope my family will do as I wish, but it is a faff to organise and I won't be able to!

Life is not fair. Of course it would be awful and totally inappropriate to say you have to be a donor before you can receive an organ. Organs need to be given freely to whoever needs them. No strings attached.

only fair

No, it is not.
That means that a sick person must offer to become a donor before being eligible to receive a much-needed donation.

I wonder if your medical history is carefully checked before organs are used?

In Wales there is already an opt-in system but I'm not sure that anyone would want to receive mine.
I would not refuse a donation if necessary but certain conditions would surely make donation inadvisable?

I think advising people to refuse donations if they opt out is a non-sequitor because some people may need a donation but would be a totally unsuitable donor.