Why would you choose not to be an organ donor?

[N.Bailey]

You have all probably discussed it already, but since it's new to me, I ran across this and give Kudos to Kerry for his attempt to get this stupid law changed.

Senators' Letter To FDA
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/health/22740965/detail.html

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

It's a ridiculous policy!

Well yes it is but that was not the question lol

 

[SunnyP4Disney]

My old boss got a liver last fall. He was literally on death's door when he received it. The nicest attorney I ever worked for. My cousin got one as well. He only lived 6 weeks after because it was not a good match but that was 6 more weeks he got to see his children and wife. My son's teacher was killed in a car accident a few years ago. Her mother told me at the wake that they told her she helped 45 people with the donations. And she looked completely normal in the casket, other than being dead. But the best story was this past January we were in Magic Kingdom one morning. My mother and I watched the cutest little 3 year old girl laughing and dancing with her father for about 15 minutes. Finally her father leaned over to my mother and told her his little girl had had a heart transplant last year.

And that little girl is the reason I, my husband and my child would be very willing donors. It would be an honor to give a second chance to someone. We tried to donate my father's organs, unfortunately, they could only harvest his eyes due to medical complications. But somewhere out there, someone can see today because of my dad. There's no greater tribute to his life...

 

[Melissa<3Disney]

I would just like to offer the other side of the issue. My boyfriend is actually a recovery tech. (meaning he is the guy that takes the tissues, veins, skin, bone, etc.) and he also works with the organ side as a coordinator (he makes sure that the doctors have everything they need in the OR for organ donation, runs charts, those sorts of things). He has been doing this for almost a year now and he loves his job so much. He has met with many of the families and while their pain is immense, and the decision to donate is never an easy one to make, most of those families are just happy to know that their loved one will be able to help save someone's life. He also has said that people who have never ever thought about organ donation have been so moved by their family members choice to donate that they themselves have changed their status to be organ donors.

While the job is not always easy on him emotionally, he loves that he is able to be a part of such a miraculous thing. They also sometimes get to meet the people who have been saved by these organs, and I can tell you the pride and happiness I see on his face at the end of the day, is worth everything to me!

He and I are both organ donors, we actually checked to donate anything in our body that might be needed. I guess my opinion is if I'm not using it anymore, why on earth would I not give it up!

For those that say that the doctors won't work just as hard to save your life if you are an organ donor, I find that logic silly. Even if the doctor wanted your organs for someone else, (which I wouldn't see why they would choose one life over another being a doctor and all) it is in the doctors best interest to keep you alive.

I have met all the people that he works with and they are the kindest, most honest, and respectful people I have known. They have specific people who work with the families during the entire process, explains everything so the family will never be left in the dark about anything.

With that said, your decision is one that only you or a loved one can make. I do think a lot of the misconceptions would be cleared up if the education about organ donation was more available to people upon signing up. But I just wanted to share that little bit of info.

I would also like to add on a side note, even if you don't think you would be a good donor, and would still like to donate, you should still check to be a donor. They do chart reviews and lots of pre-requisite screening before they accept any part of a body. Your organs may not be donatable, but your skin could help a burn victim.

 

[merryweather20]

I definitely see your point. I guess the only thing I can think of is that if you do believe those things than you wouldn't donate your organs so if someone is willing to donate its obvious they do not share the same beliefs and therefore you would not be denying them an afterlife because they don't believe in it. I have no idea about the whole murder thing, I had never heard of that before this thread.
The only thing I know is that its human instinct to preserve your own life. Its natural to accept anything to save it, even if you aren't willing to give what it is you are willing to accept. I don't really consider that selfish, just very natural. I'm not really sure how else to explain it.

Wow! I certainly knew that there were many people who wouldn't donate their own organs, but I'm absolutely floored that those same people would take what they weren't willing to give. That is indeed selfish, straight out of the dictionary.

I guess I think the exact opposite of you. That its human instinct to give. That its human to want to take care of those around you.

 

[N.Bailey]

Wow! I certainly knew that there were many people who wouldn't donate their own organs, but I'm absolutely floored that those same people would take what they weren't willing to give. That is indeed selfish, straight out of the dictionary.

I guess I think the exact opposite of you. That its human instinct to give. That its human to want to take care of those around you.

I don't know. Some people just cannot accept their mortality. I'm actually ok knowing I WILL die one day. I do have to stop and remember though that not everyone is. A person so fearful of dying might not even be able to comprehend death, let alone donating a part of their body. By contrast, this same person would probably do almost anything to live because they cannot accept that they will die. It's sort of an oxymoron really.

 

[mumom95]

Sigh -- I have no wish to de-rail this thread any more than it is. I feel a certain way, you presume that I am selfish for that feeling and what I may or may not do after I die based on my feelings. We'll just have to agree to philosophically disagree.

I'm going to try and say this as kindly as I possibly can, to try and not offend you, because honesty that is not what I want to do.

I also think the fact that you (and anyone else) would accept an organ when in need but wouldn't be willing to donate (I know you are just not willing with the two organs) is being selfish.

Does that make you a selfish person? No. I don't think there is a person out there that isn't selfish when it comes to something. That doesn't make a person selfish, but it doesn't mean what they are doing isn't selfish. Kind of like everyone does something bad at some point or another in their life. But a few bad acts in a persons life doesn't make them a bad person. Just like a few selfish acts in a person's life doesn't make them a selfish person.

I will admit that I think it is wrong to not be an organ donor but still be willing to accept an organ if needed. I've always had the philosophy in life that I don't ask something of other people that I'm not willing to do myself. Just because I think it's wrong, doesn't mean it is wrong though. It's just my opinion. And I really don't think any less of people like this. I just figure it is something that we disagree on. It's a personal enough decision that I feel whether I agree with the person or not, I respect the fact that it is their decision to make. But, doesn't mean I can't still think that their decision is wrong.

So please, don't be offended, because honestly, I do not by any means think you are a bad or selfish person for your decision. I actually thought your reasoning behind not donating those organs was a very spiritual one, and I completely understood it.

 

[Inigo]

I had my license marked to reflect that they can take any parts of my body they want when I die. Both of my kids (DS22 and DD19) did the same when they got their licenses without any prompting or coercion from me. (Although both said that since I would probably be the one making the decision, they might as well put it on their license, since it would probably happen anyway.)

I'd like to donate my body to science when I die, but I don't know that any med schools would take it since I have had so many surgeries for my crohn's disease, and am looking forward to having my abdomen totally rebuilt this fall because of a massive hernia from resulted from the multiple abdominal surgeries. I figure they don't want bodies that have been modified so much since it won't let the med students know what "normal" is supposed to look like.

Maybe I'll donate my body to Bill Bass down at the Body Farm at UT-Knoxville. Wouldn't that give the student a puzzle to figure out what those little pieces of metal are that they find where my body was? (Surgical staples)

I've told my kids I want to be cremated when I die, and they can do what they wish with the cremains with two exceptions: 1) They can't throw them in the trash, because that's not very nice to do to your mommy; or 2) they can't flush them down the toilet because I have Crohn's Disease and have spent too much time in the bathroom while alive.

I'm just a little too irreverent sometimes. I guess it comes from having an incurable disease.

 

[NikitaZee]

I'm going to try and say this as kindly as I possibly can, to try and not offend you, because honesty that is not what I want to do.

I also think the fact that you (and anyone else) would accept an organ when in need but wouldn't be willing to donate (I know you are just not willing with the two organs) is being selfish.

Does that make you a selfish person? No. I don't think there is a person out there that isn't selfish when it comes to something. That doesn't make a person selfish, but it doesn't mean what they are doing isn't selfish. Kind of like everyone does something bad at some point or another in their life. But a few bad acts in a persons life doesn't make them a bad person. Just like a few selfish acts in a person's life doesn't make them a selfish person.

I will admit that I think it is wrong to not be an organ donor but still be willing to accept an organ if needed. I've always had the philosophy in life that I don't ask something of other people that I'm not willing to do myself. Just because I think it's wrong, doesn't mean it is wrong though. It's just my opinion. And I really don't think any less of people like this. I just figure it is something that we disagree on. It's a personal enough decision that I feel whether I agree with the person or not, I respect the fact that it is their decision to make. But, doesn't mean I can't still think that their decision is wrong.

So please, don't be offended, because honestly, I do not by any means think you are a bad or selfish person for your decision. I actually thought your reasoning behind not donating those organs was a very spiritual one, and I completely understood it.

No offense taken, at all. It's always a welcome debate when folks can disagree as nicely and respectfully as you have. I appreciate that you see where I'm coming from - even if you personally feel differently about the issue.

 

[VillageMama]

...the patient is kept on life support until they go to the OR to have this done. Despite the diagnosis of brain death, to a lay person, the patient appears very alive. They continue to have normal cardiac function (seen on the EKG monitor)...

This is why I am not comfortable with organ donation. I do not trust this concept called "brain death". I trust in actual death... the heart stops beating and breathing ceases. The only way to know for sure that this has happened is to turn off the machines and see if the body dies.

Unfortunately, if you do that the organs begin to deteriorate and are no longer usable for donations. I do not want organs taken from me or my children while we are technically still alive, even if doctors are pretty darn sure that if they turned the machines off, we'd die.

I also have strong feelings about bodily integrity. It is my belief that our bodies are not merely shells to be used and discarded, but are as sacred as our souls. It means a lot to me to leave a body intact. The image of that DISer's dear little niece having so many parts of her body removed is very distressing to me.

Believe me, I'm torn because I know that receiving organs means the difference between life and death... or at least a great improvement in the quality of one's life for another. But none of us are owed an extended life. Nor are we obligated to have our bodies taken apart for the benefit of another.

I "met" a DISer whose dear daughter received a heart transplant as an infant. She is now a lovely young woman and I am soo glad that she is still with her family. I can't imagine the fears and the gratitude of her parents.

If my child needed an organ transplant, would I accept it? Undoubtedly yes. The donor's parents were comfortable with the brain death diagnosis, even though I wouldn't be. But if organs ceased to be available because everyone started believing as I do, I could accept that. To me, death is not the end of life.

 

[lillygator]

This is why I am not comfortable with organ donation. I do not trust this concept called "brain death". I trust in actual death... the heart stops beating and breathing ceases. The only way to know for sure that this has happened is to turn off the machines and see if the body dies.

Unfortunately, if you do that the organs begin to deteriorate and are no longer usable for donations. I do not want organs taken from me or my children while we are technically still alive, even if doctors are pretty darn sure that if they turned the machines off, we'd die.

exactly...and the word harvest, ugh, yuck. I recall a 20/20 or 60 min episode some years back on this very thing, and it was horrifying.

 

[TandT]

I guess we think differently on this, because if I am willing to take, I should be willing to give.

I agree

 

[DaisyLynn]

This is why I am not comfortable with organ donation. I do not trust this concept called "brain death". I trust in actual death... the heart stops beating and breathing ceases. The only way to know for sure that this has happened is to turn off the machines and see if the body dies.

Unfortunately, if you do that the organs begin to deteriorate and are no longer usable for donations. I do not want organs taken from me or my children while we are technically still alive, even if doctors are pretty darn sure that if they turned the machines off, we'd die.

I also have strong feelings about bodily integrity. It is my belief that our bodies are not merely shells to be used and discarded, but are as sacred as our souls. It means a lot to me to leave a body intact. The image of that DISer's dear little niece having so many parts of her body removed is very distressing to me.

Believe me, I'm torn because I know that receiving organs means the difference between life and death... or at least a great improvement in the quality of one's life for another. But none of us are owed an extended life. Nor are we obligated to have our bodies taken apart for the benefit of another.

I "met" a DISer whose dear daughter received a heart transplant as an infant. She is now a lovely young woman and I am soo glad that she is still with her family. I can't imagine the fears and the gratitude of her parents.

If my child needed an organ transplant, would I accept it? Undoubtedly yes. The donor's parents were comfortable with the brain death diagnosis, even though I wouldn't be. But if organs ceased to be available because everyone started believing as I do, I could accept that. To me, death is not the end of life.

I agree 100% with this.

 

[TandT]

Wow...... I can't believe how selfish and close minded some people are on here!!! I would not be alive if it weren't for someone who donated their organs. I recieved a heart transplant 9 years ago from a 12 year old boy who commited suicide via a gunshot wound to the head. It was obvious in his case that he was brain dead...does that mean he should be kept alive on a machine until his heart stopped beating?? Some comments I am hearing about this is just mind blowing and ignorant.

I am not trying to start a debate or anything. I am just defending something that is near and dear to my heart. I was diagonosed at 23 years old with a fatal heart defect. I was given 3 months to live. The night before my transplant, the doctors had to tell my family that I was going to die because of the shortage of donors that matched. Fortunately, the next night, they had found a donor heart that matched and I was given a second chance at life.

I am in contact with the Father of "MY HERO". He is comforted by the fact that his SON saved 7 other peoples lives that night. With such a tragic situation, something good came out of it!!! I would be a DONOR in a heart beat!! The past 9 years, I have seen babies born, dreams made, graduations ,weddings, and lost time FOUND by the MANY people associated with Organ and Tissue Donation.

If some people who oppose organ donation could walk a mile in my shoes, they would see the joy and happiness that a person feels when they are given a second chance at life... I am almost certain that they would become donors afterwards.....

 

[TandT]

exactly...and the word harvest, ugh, yuck. I recall a 20/20 or 60 min episode some years back on this very thing, and it was horrifying.

The word "HARVEST" is ugh and yuck????? Imagine someone you love being stricken with a terminal illness and the only way to save them is to "HARVEST" an organ of another who has perished. WHAT WOULD YOU DO?? SAY....OH... HARVEST?? EWWW....

 

[kaytieeldr]

I think a lot of this decision is based on religous beliefs (right, wrong or indifferent). I would donate a kidney or bone marrow today if I needed to, without question. I would love to donate blood but I cannot because of a long standing prejudice to men who sleep with men. When I'm dead, feel free to take anything that could help someone else, I'm going to be cremated anyway.

Are you A+? I'll take your blood.

 

[AntePrincess]

While I am an organ donor, along with my entire family, in practice I doubt anything but our corneas and our skin can be salvageable. Our advance directives are very strict on what constitutes "dead enough" for them to harvest, unplug, and proceed with cremation. Brain death, particularly since there are several clinical definitions which are applied a bit subjectively (some parts of medicine are as much art as science, absolutely no criticism intended), isn't sufficient for us. By the time our advance directives let us go, organs such as our hearts likely cannot be salvaged. Would I accept a lifesaving organ that my advance directives mean I probably couldn't give? In a heartbeat. I'm selfish like that. I've also done my time as a professional lifesaver and have never bought into a "privilege this life over that cause I think they're more deserving" mentality. That's not triage, that's bigotry.

 

[FireDancer]

I am an organ donor. I know two people who are only alive because they were given transplants (one is 27 and had both lungs and a heart transplanted). I did work in the funeral industry and won't be donating my eyes or long bones but the rest I don't care about. Once I'm dead I don't care what they do with me, it is no longer my problem. I am not one of the people who think the body is important after death, just the soul. They can stuff me and keep me in the corner to hang their coats on for all I care (I would kind of prefer that actually ).

I am not one of those people though that think everyone who doesn't want to be a donor is a terrible person. It is a personal decision and do what you feel is right. In some religions the body has to be buried whole, some other objections have been mentioned here. I just worry about me, what others do is none of my business. If you do know someone saved by a transplant I think some people would change their mind though.

 

[kaytieeldr]

"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)"

I'm safe. I don't believe in the soul. I do believe in pain - so if this is proven, I would like to request a painkiller. Two ketaprophen should killl all the pain. Heck, go wild. Give me three.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

Wow! I certainly knew that there were many people who wouldn't donate their own organs, but I'm absolutely floored that those same people would take what they weren't willing to give. That is indeed selfish, straight out of the dictionary.

I guess I think the exact opposite of you. That its human instinct to give. That its human to want to take care of those around you.

I am not an organ donor, and feel very strongly on this.

No one here has mentioned the far more probable reality. How about the opposite of "I will receive but I won't donate"?. How about what many of us face - "They want me to donate, but I can never receive?"

I have minimal health insurance, and there is no way in hades I would ever be a candidate for an organ transplant. I can't even get strep throat taken care of for under $500. There is no way I would ever receive all the medical care necessary that would lead to an transplant. If you can't pay, it probably makes the trip to the transplant table pretty difficult! It's unrealistic to think I would ever get a transplant - I would instead receive what minimal care and alternatives I could pay for.

Yet, like those on this thread love to point out, you are a BAD PERSON if you aren't thrilled to donate every organ. We are all bombarded with "be a donor" with no thought at all if you can receive. No one really cares about the inequality there - just too bad for the less-insured person I guess. Class, status, wealth, insurance - it all plays into organ donation, and it's hard to ignore.

I have some other reasons too (not getting into it here), so I chose not to participate in organ donations on any level. I have no problem with others doing it, but I am not going to be part of any of it.

(And I don't think for one second that this national health care bill will change anything for people like me, I'll probably end up fined on top of it all ).