Why would you choose not to be an organ donor?

[kafitty]

very interesting topic to me also. One of my best friend's absolutely refuses to become an organ donor, but he's even willing to admit that he's not really sure why.

i'm all for it. Take whatever you can, study whatever else, and skip the darn funeral - just throw a party in my name. my only regret is that i couldn't be there!

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

I have had an organ donor card since i was a teenager (before they gave you the option to choose on your drivers license). I have always felt very strongly about this, but I can't convince my DH. He can't really give me a reason why, so I let it go. I will honor his wishes, I just hope he honors mine. When my DD got her permit, she chose, on her own, to designate donor status. I never even mentioned it beforehand. I am so proud of her!

 

[Sarah7401]

This has been such an interesting thread to read.

I wouldn't have met my husband if it weren't for an organ donor. He is a kidney transplant recipient. He got his from a cadaver and, although he was never able to thank the family personally, he was able to write a letter to the family and send it to CORE and they forwarded it on to the family.

I wasn't an organ donor until I got to know my husband. I just felt wishy washy about it and couldn't really define why I didn't want to do it. But after I realized that I wouldn't have the love of my life or my son without the compassion of an unnamed organ donor.... well, my mind changed.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

I let my wife decide for me. When dead, why would I care - but my wife might. For years she refused to let me put that on my driver's license. She has recently changed her mind.

She doesn't want to be a donor - she wants to be creamated. She didn't let me pick for her.

 

[pooh_bear.614]

I used to want to donate my organs after I pass but spending some time in the funeral service has completely changed my mind. I do not want to be cut up like that nor would I wish that on any family member.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

To each his own. There are people who won't even donate blood (even though they can) and their body will make more of it.

It seems a shame that the tone is that you are a horrible person if you don't want to donate for an event that could be decades away.

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

I let my wife decide for me. When dead, why would I care - but my wife might. For years she refused to let me put that on my driver's license. She has recently changed her mind.

She doesn't want to be a donor - she wants to be creamated. She didn't let me pick for her.

I think you can be cremated after donating organs. I plan on being cremated, the planet is running out of room, seriously. And it's so much cheaper. Spend the money on me when I'm alive, preferably by taking me to WDW!

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I have a friend who has mentioned in passing emails of chat that she is not and will not be an organ donor. I didn't dwell on it because I didn't want to argue. As I understand it, she believes that when you are on life support, your soul is still with you and can feel pain. Since organs must be harvested from a "live" body and the soul is still there, it would be painful. Has anyone ever heard of this theory?

I googled it to see if I could find any info. I found this site, and browsed through it. This quote sounds like what she may be thinking:

"More recently, in "Through the Tunnel", Diane Goble gives the same warning as Steinpach. "The consciousness is still aware of its physical body and may still be connected to its body by the Silver Cord for many hours after breathing ceases and the heart stops beating," she writes. "Moving the body, removing organs, autopsies, embalming, and even family arguments about the will and thoughtless comments by attending medical personnel, police coroners, or morticians, within a few hours after a death may be detrimental to the consciously departing soul." (Goble, 1993)"

http://www.beyondtheveil.net/organs.html

I'm a donor and have been for my entire driving life. I was scared of admitting my mortality, but once it was done, I forgot about it. Same thing as when I went in to the lawyer's to make my will.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I have a friend who has mentioned in passing emails of chat that she is not and will not be an organ donor. I didn't dwell on it because I didn't want to argue. As I understand it, she believes that when you are on life support, your soul is still with you and can feel pain. Since organs must be harvested from a "live" body and the soul is still there, it would be painful. Has anyone ever heard of this theory?

I don't know how true that is. The only surgery I have had is for a removal of a torn meniscus. Can't say that I noticed it one bit.

According to the myths list---most religions are fine with organ donation--and if they felt the patient was in anyway suffering for it, I would imagine that more would be against it.

 

[taylor1293]

My mom refuses to be a donor. I've told her that if the decision is up to me, she will be one.

 

[Handbag Lady]

I don't understand why people don't, but I can't say that they are wrong just because I don't understand it.

I feel that I won't even be aware or there when they take the organs. I've also reminded my family annually that if they don't respect my wishes, I shall haunt them.

 

[chisnpeke]

I was in line at the DMV years ago. At the time they offered a discount on your renewal if you signed up as an organ donor. I pointed this out to a woman in line with me but she said she was too old and they wouldn't want her organs. She wasn't that old. I told her even if her internal organs weren't good, she had lovely skin and they could use it for skin grafts for burn victims. She was not pleased .

I'm signed up on my driver's license even though they don't give a discount on my renewal any longer.

My grandpa used to say when asked if he wanted to be an organ donor "Honey, I haven't got anything they'd want."

I am an organ donor. I have a friend who is not because her mother told her not to be one, reasons unknown. They are Catholic so I don't know if it is a religious reason?

 

[NikitaZee]

I would donate my organs, with the exception of my heart and eyes. They represent the heart and soul of who I am, and although it might not make practical sense to some, I don't want them cut from my body - even after I'm gone. Anything else, is okay with me.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I don't know how true that is. The only surgery I have had is for a removal of a torn meniscus. Can't say that I noticed it one bit.

According to the myths list---most religions are fine with organ donation--and if they felt the patient was in anyway suffering for it, I would imagine that more would be against it.

Like I said, I didn't engage her in her beliefs. I just thought it was an interesting theory. Since they don't use anesthesia on a body to be harvested, maybe the thought is that the soul still can feel pain? I've had four surgeries, one with general anesthesia and 3 with "La La Land " anesthesia. I don't remember any of them, but maybe the anesthesia just made me forget?

I dunno. Too deep for me.

 

[chisnpeke]

DFiance is an organ donor, I'm not. I'm just completely freaked out by thoughts of death and my body being cut up. I wish I didn't have this fear as I think organ donation is a great thing. Both my grandma and dad have benefited from eye donors. They'd be totally blind without them. I think one day I'll change my mind about this, or at least, I hope so.

Oddly enough I'm perfectly fine and happy to donate a kidney, bone marrow, blood, other things. I don't get it either.

I'm not too freaked out about my body being cut up by organ donation but an autopsy would freak me out. I know I'd be dead but the thought of it is freaky!!

 

[2Kds2K9]

When my Mom was diagnosed with cancer, her first comment was that she would not be able to donate her organs when she died. A very selfless comment coming from a women who was just given a devastating diagnosis.

On a much lighter note. I recently renewed my drivers license and checked yes to being an organ donor. My DD was looking at my new license and noticed this. Her comment was "Really Mom! You are an organ donor.......which one did you donate?! Had to explain that this would not really come into play until I was dead.

Yes, it's a personal decision. I just hope that others will take the time and rebuke all the myths and mark "yes" on their license.

 

[chisnpeke]

I let my wife decide for me. When dead, why would I care - but my wife might. For years she refused to let me put that on my driver's license. She has recently changed her mind.

She doesn't want to be a donor - she wants to be creamated. She didn't let me pick for her.

It's your license...I don't think she has a say in what you can put on it.

 

[SandrA9810]

Donating blood doesn't bother me... as in gross me out, but I did it once at college and nearly passed out for the rest of the day. It was pretty bad too, cause I'd fallen asleep on the couch in an area, wake up for a few minutes, the fall back asleep. I think I slept for like 4hrs before I had enough energy to leave. I don't regret the experience, I just don't want to live through it again.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

It's your license...I don't think she has a say in what you can put on it.

She is my wife - if I love her, she has a say.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Donating blood doesn't bother me... as in gross me out, but I did it once at college and nearly passed out for the rest of the day. It was pretty bad too, cause I'd fallen asleep on the couch in an area, wake up for a few minutes, the fall back asleep. I think I slept for like 4hrs before I had enough energy to leave. I don't regret the experience, I just don't want to live through it again.

I avoid donating blood (but have done so 3 times) for similar reasons. I don't think it is fair to judge anyone in either circumstance--but the stigma is that you are a bad person for not giving up what you cannot use after your dead.

From that alone--everyone (healthy, within the donor requirements) can spare a little bit of blood and plasma.