Organ Donation

[santa claus]

There's an ongoing debate that Wales may become the first part of the UK to have presumed consent.

Will it follow that organs will soon be on sale to the highest bidder and will those who choose to opt-out prejudice their position should they ever need a transplant?

It may be called the NHS, but it's not as we know it.

[TheAnimus]

and will those who choose to opt-out prejudice their position should they ever need a transplant?

It may be called the NHS, but it's not as we know it.

Well that is an interesting philosophical debate isn't it.

We have a shortage of organs. I can not honestly update why anyone would care about their organs been harvested, assuming they are dead. Persistent vegetative state is more complex.

[gagaga]

There's an ongoing debate that Wales may become the first part of the UK to have presumed consent.

Will it follow that organs will soon be on sale to the highest bidder and will those who choose to opt-out prejudice their position should they ever need a transplant?

It may be called the NHS, but it's not as we know it.

Not surprising that a socialist government decides they own you when you're dead as well as alive.

There should be more work on getting people on the register voluntarily. I'd opt-out in principle (despite the gf being a doc who's worked on transplants). I'm on the opt-in register currently as i'll just be a bag of meat when dead.

[Dooms]

They were talking about this back when I was working for NHSBT back in 2010, I thought it had already been passed?

I was all for it when they first talked about it, majority of the people I've spoken to about Organ Donation are only not on the register because they haven't got round to it. If it was opt-out anyone who cared could decide but everyone who was neither here or there would benefit a lot of people.

Oh and hospitals already bid against each other for organs.

[kalniel]

There's an ongoing debate that Wales may become the first part of the UK to have presumed consent.

Will it follow that organs will soon be on sale to the highest bidder

Not sure there would be any link between the two - possibly the latter is less likely to occur if there is presumed consent as supply will be higher.

and will those who choose to opt-out prejudice their position should they ever need a transplant?

Does opting in currently increase your chance of getting one of the short in supply organs at the moment?

[Kumagoro]

How are foreigners classed, be it ones staying long term, students or even people just on holiday. Originally I was thinking about their consent to such things rather than if they can receive.

Imagine you are on holiday and you can't speak the language and they sign you up.

Also,

Personally I would want some choice in what type of person my parts would go to as well. I don't want my parts going to smokers, super obese and racist people.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

[melon]

Well that is an interesting philosophical debate isn't it.

We have a shortage of organs. I can not honestly update why anyone would care about their organs been harvested, assuming they are dead. Persistent vegetative state is more complex.

i dont like the idea of it period , but whats to stop them taking them any way ?

I mean if someone gets cremated whats to stop them swapping bodies or just no body , unless the family see them in the coffin before they go in ?

[Saracen]

....

Personally I would want some choice in what type of person my parts would go to as well.

You won't get any.

You can control what parts you donate, but in terms of who can and cannot get them, you not only have no say at all, but won't be told. The process is anonymous .... well, except perhaps for the living donation process, which is usually between family members, like part of a liver.


Post-donation, it's possible to exchange anonymous letters, through the transplant coordinator, and conceivable that over time, and with the consent of both parties, anonymity could be lifted, but it's the exception not the rule.

How are foreigners classed, be it ones starting long term, students out even people just on holiday.

....

That's a bit more complex. Once harvested, donated organs will be used if a match can be found. The priority is always to those eligible for treatment on the NHS. Organs only go outside that is no match is available inside it. But, yes, that means foreigners can get your organ.

Most significantly, that means that other EU citizens may get them, because of the EU-wide reciprocal health agreements. But on the other hand, it means NHS patients needing organs could be getting them from France, or Germany, or ..... <insert list of 28 or whatever it is other countries>.

But after that, organs could end up going to private clinics, and that could include paying patients from just about anywhere.

But, your choice is to donate and help whoever can be helped, priority to NHS patients, or to not donate, period.

[Saracen]

i dont like the idea of it period , but whats to stop them taking them any way ?

I mean if someone gets cremated whats to stop them swapping bodies or just no body , unless the family see them in the coffin before they go in ?

A whole bucketload of regulations .... and laws.

Of course, it'd hardly be the first time we've seen utter disgraces in the NHS, from mid-Staffs, to organs secretly taken from deceased babies, but there's no evidence I'm aware of that such travesties are anything other than very rare exceptions to otherwise carefully adhered-to rules.

[Saracen]

There's an ongoing debate that Wales may become the first part of the UK to have presumed consent.

Will it follow that organs will soon be on sale to the highest bidder and will those who choose to opt-out prejudice their position should they ever need a transplant?

It may be called the NHS, but it's not as we know it.

As I understand it, it passed in Wales.

Organs should not be on sale in the UK. It's illegal. Period. And still is after that Welsh vote. That's a very different issue from presumed consent.

And whether you are or aren't a donor should have NO impact, under current or the new Welsh rules, on getting an organ as a recipient. Of course, an argument could be made that it should be, and that could be argued under the current system of opt-in. Good luck getting it past medical ethics committees though.

Unless things radically change, opting out will not prejudice your entitlement chances, and more than opting in under the current system enhances them. If you're an eligible patient, you're eligible, and organs go to those according to medical need. I see no evidence of that position changing.

[Saracen]

....

Does opting in currently increase your chance of getting one of the short in supply organs at the moment?

Nope.

[Saracen]

....

There should be more work on getting people on the register voluntarily. I'd opt-out in principle (despite the gf being a doc who's worked on transplants). I'm on the opt-in register currently as i'll just be a bag of meat when dead.

Agreed, on all points.

[Gerrard]

Does opting in currently increase your chance of getting one of the short in supply organs at the moment?

Should do, as there's always the chance of getting them back at a later date!

How are foreigners classed, be it ones starting long term, students out even people just on holiday.

It's Wales, so shouldn't be a problem.

It is an interesting point though; I guess the opt-out choice would then have to become part of the customs and immigration process. Maybe they would have to positively ID a body to make sure it was British and came under this law first.


Personally I'm for it because as has been said, the people who want to opt-out are far more likely to do so than the current apathy of opting-in.

[Lucio]

For such an emotive issue, presumed consent is most definitely wrong because it removes any indicators for next of kin to make an informed decision when asked the difficult question about what happens when the machines are turned off.

For example imagine the partner of gagaga was told that "it's ok, he didn't actively say no to us", because the paperwork was lost, or he died before the register was updated and gives consent, and then comes onto the forum account and discovers his true wishes.

With the current opt-in basis, the reverse situation is at least, less traumatic for the next of kin making the decision.

[Mrs Hex]

I'm behind this as hopefully it will stop families of people who agreed to donate interfering with donations because of THEIR OWN BELIEFS.
I find that reprehensible.

Obviously it is different in cases where the person isn't a registered donor... But an opt out system should only be for yourself and any minors you are responsible for. And with minors it should be until they reach the age of majority (18/21)

The only sticky wicket I can see is for mentally handicapped people or similar - but perhaps opt out will help there....