Presumed consent organ donation

If Castiel is so against opt-out systems, why does he spend so much time defending religion and religious schools? The attitude of religious parents is very much 'my child is Muslim/Christian/Catholic etc' until they tell me otherwise. Organised Religion is very much an opt-out thing for most people.

If you read my posts without prejudice then you will see that I have made no reference to children and that consent is something that should be sought from an individual when they are in position to make an informed decision. I hold that view for religious practices such as circumcision and baptism also.
 
But you still have the choice not to donate (the key point which is being missed).

It is not being missed it's an entirely different paradigm. To paint it as the same without regard for the implications is simply not correct.

I do really wonder how many people quoting this and that in here know a) the criteria for donation b) what can be donated c) how the process actually happens d) what happens with objections e) what people would do with opt-out with objections etc.
 
You don't loose that right or choice though do you?.

Only if you are in a position to make that choice, however there are a myriad of reason why such a choice may not have been available to someone or appropriate for them. Presumed Consent makes that choice for them.

Would you be happy with enforcing the decision (making it a mandatory choice)?

I think I answered this in my post to DP. I would support a mandated choice as long as it had three options and was open to review by the individual.

I'm mean, ideally I'd like everybody to be able to get them if needed, but that clearly isn't the case today & I doubt it would be under the suggestions you mentioned.

I disagree, I think that some of or a combination of them would give us significantly more people registering their intent or consent being given by someone other than the State...such as Family in the situation where their is no specific intent given by the individual.

People who fight for our country get paid by tax payers, it isn't really comparable - as no financial motivation exists for donation.

I was referring to the point about objecting because of conscience or belief and retaining the right to be defended equally by those who hold no such objection, and how that compares with a system which punishes those who object to having their organs removed on grounds of conscience or belief as opposed to those who do not.

I was not referring to motivation, although I do not see a fair comparison between being paid a wage to defend your country and being threatened with potential death if you do not agree with organ donation.


If not enough are being donated for the people of the nation, I could see the appeal of joining this kind of collective (I'm not sure I would personally).

I could see the appeal of killing everyone with a congenital or hereditary medical disposition that may require a transplant... That doesn't mean I would support or not actively oppose such a position however....many things are appealing, but that doesn't make them right.
 
It is not being missed it's an entirely different paradigm. To paint it as the same without regard for the implications is simply not correct.

I do really wonder how many people quoting this and that in here know a) the criteria for donation b) what can be donated c) how the process actually happens d) what happens with objections e) what people would do with opt-out with objections etc.

I will be honest and say that I do not know the criteria you refer to, at least not fully or with any authority. My objection is purely about the presumed consent, which I feel is not really consent at all and I think that where a definitive intent is not given then we should not presume one.....there are other ways to solve this or at least improve it.
 
I've been on the organ donation register since i was 16, I think it would be rather selfish to have received a cornea in the past and another in the very near future not to be an organ donor. I would also donate blood if they'd let me too.

In my opinion anything that increases the availability of organs for transplant is a good thing. Although i do understand Castiel's point of view, an enforced choice when you receive your national insurance card which you can change later if you change your mind later in life would be a better solution.

I will be honest and say that I do not know the criteria you refer to, at least not fully or with any authority. My objection is purely about the presumed consent, which I feel is not really consent at all and I think that where a definitive intent is not given then we should not presume one.....there are other ways to solve this or at least improve it.

Opt-out simply does not work. According to the blood and transplant service 1,000 people a year die waiting for an organ. Yet almost 7,000 potential doners are buried/cremated a week with organs they don't need any more.

Personally I would like to see voting compulsory like in Australia. There's other things that could get done at the same time too if you know full well you will be seing everyone 17+ at least once every 4 years.

Cast your vote, join or leave the organ register, passport forms. Nothing that takes extra work on the day, just handing in papers.
 
Opt-out simply does not work. According to the blood and transplant service 1,000 people a year die waiting for an organ. Yet almost 7,000 potential doners are buried/cremated a week with organs they don't need any more.


The NHSBT seems to disagree with you, at least in some respects. They are pretty solid on the concept of consent and making sure that such consent is given.

NHSBT's position

We welcome any debate that raises the value and importance of transplantation and increases the general public’s knowledge of the importance of organ and tissue donation.

Transplant services in the UK are renowned for the honest, open and transparent manner in which they operate. This is due, in part, to the fact that consent has always been an integral part of the process of donating organs for transplant. In turn, society, recipients and their families acknowledge the wonderful gift of life that donors contribute. During 2006-07 the generosity of donors led to a 10% increase in the number of solid organ transplants to an all-time high of 3,087. Since 2002, around a million people have joined the NHS Organ Donor Register (ODR) every year, pledging to pass on the gift of life.

Our current experience in the UK shows that up to 90% of people support organ donation with more than 15 million people, or 25%, having joined the ODR. An ongoing potential donor audit of deaths in intensive care units shows that six out of ten families approached about organ donation will give their agreement or authorisation for donation. It makes it easier for them if they know the donor has registered their wish to donate on the ODR.

The Human Tissue Acts introduced in 2006 reinforce the importance of giving consent for donation. Many people have found it difficult to accept that relatives could overturn any wish they may have registered or expressed during their lifetime but the new law makes it explicit that it is the wishes of the deceased individual that should prevail. .

The important issue is that people discuss their desire to donate organs so that close family members and friends are aware of their wishes. As much as possible should be done to persuade people to join the NHS Organ Donor Register by calling 0300 123 23 23 or via www.organdonation.nhs.uk

NHSBT is neither against nor in favour of a change to presumed consent legislation. Now that the Organ Donation Taskforce review has been delivered, we will continue to promote the need for more voluntary registrations on the Organ Donor Register. We will work within whatever legislative framework is introduced in any of the four health administrations in the United Kingdom. In the meantime, we work in earnest towards supporting the implementation of the 14 recommendations contained in the Taskforce’s first report which are seen as critical prerequisites for improving organ donation in the UK.

Updated November 2008

They seem to value promotion of voluntary donations as the basis for any legislation. I think it is disingenuous to say that Opt-Outs simply do not work...I think ours can be improved in many ways, but that is a long way from having a presumed consent system.

http://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/newsroom/statements_and_stances/statements/opt_in_or_out.asp
 
The NHSBT seems to disagree with you, at least in some respects. They are pretty solid on the concept of consent and making sure that such consent is given.



They seem to value promotion of voluntary donations as the basis for any legislation. I think it is disingenuous to say that Opt-Outs simply do not work...I think ours can be improved in many ways, but that is a long way from having a presumed consent system.

http://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/newsroom/statements_and_stances/statements/opt_in_or_out.asp

Obviosuly I meant opt-in, but from your post I think you got what I meant. I blame the lager ... only had one though :eek:

The NHSBTare entitled to their opinion ... however wrong it may be ;)
 
Obviosuly I meant opt-in, but from your post I think you got what I meant. I blame the lager ... only had one though :eek:

The NHSBTare entitled to their opinion ... however wrong it may be ;)

Yeah, I realised that was what you meant. And they are indeed entitled to their opinion, as we all are. Whether it is wrong or not is open to debate. :)
 
In Elmarko's world only the scientists and staff members of the pharmaceutical companies that grow them would be allowed to have them ;)
What an utterly stupid thing to say.

The only reason why I even entertained the idea of the mutual opt in system was for two key reasons.

1. Organs a limited resource - to note, this would not apply If we could grow them - making the entire debate pointless if it was true.
2. To get more people to sign up, because of point 1.

This isn't about teaching people lessons or punishment them, it's about incentivising people to join the register in such a way which doesn't impact on their rights (as obviously a simply opt out system for many is too draconian).

I do think that the suggestion Castiel mentioned may be one way of significantly increasing the donor rates & to be honest - whatever method reduces the total amount of deaths waiting for organ donation best should be explored.

If the double opt in system (to give & take) achieved that, I'd also support that.
 
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It's not yours when your dead.......because you'll be dead.

You should still have the right to determine how your body is disposed of however and not have that decision subject to a presumption by the State. Change the system whereby Consent is given by all means, but presumption is not something I agree with.
 
What an utterly stupid thing to say.

The only reason why I even entertained the idea of the mutual opt in system was for two key reasons.

1. Organs a limited resource - to note, this would not apply If we could grow them - making the entire debate pointless if it was true.
2. To get more people to sign up, because of point 1.

This isn't about teaching people lessons or punishment them, it's about incentivising people to join the register in such a way which doesn't impact on their rights (as obviously a simply opt out system for many is too draconian).

I suspect that there are more liberal ways of incentivising someone to donate than threatening to let them die unnecessarily if they do not agree with your position however. ;)
 
It seems like a bold step by Wales so I'll be interested to see the results.

Instinctively I'd prefer it to be an opt-in system as that makes it a conscious choice rather than potentially an omission to be on the register. However if there aren't enough donors this is one way to attempt to address that - provided the choices are clearly explained then I don't have much in the way of an issue with it.

This might be a question which shows my naivety around donation procedures but can the family still overrule the wishes of the (soon to be) deceased regarding organ donation i.e. if the putative donor is currently on the register (whether opt-in or opt-out) then can the family still make the choice not to allow the donation to go ahead? I've already made it clear to my family that if any of my body parts can be reused then I'd like it to happen but I wonder about situations where it hasn't been discussed with the family or the family and the donor are at odds on the issue whose position would be upheld. I suspect it's those who remain living as a matter of guidelines and that it's simply not worth the hassle to take organs where there's a willing donor but unwilling family but perhaps someone could clarify for me?
 
I suspect that there are more liberal ways of incentivising someone to donate than threatening to let them die unnecessarily if they do not agree with your position however. ;)
Well, that's not exactly true - it's saying, come join our club, we donate organs to each other because we rule!. :p

But yeah, I do know what you mean - which is why I've stressed if I was a little colder it's what I would support (in reality I wouldn't be comfortable with letting people die) but I also can't ignore the fact we have a population of people more than willing to take organs & not willing to give them back.

This annoys me greatly, almost enough to be want them out of the gene pool via the above form of Darwinism (almost enough, but not quite).
 
This isn't about teaching people lessons or punishment them

Yes it is, the first part you admit as such when you say you'd do it to increase organ donations or 'incentivise' them, that is teaching them a lesson in other words.

The second bit, about punishment, is the natural consequence of telling a non-donor they can't have a transplant because they didn't donate themselves.

Do you think a women's place for a mastectomy operation should be based on how many Race for Lifes she's taken part in, or how much she's donated to cancer research? That is principally the same as your recommendation that people who opt out of organ donation should forgo their place in the queue.
 
Yes it is, the first part you admit as such when you say you'd do it to increase organ donations or 'incentivise' them, that is teaching them a lesson in other words.

The second bit, about punishment, is the natural consequence of telling a non-donor they can't have a transplant because they didn't donate themselves.

Do you think a women's place for a mastectomy operation should be based on how many Race for Lifes she's taken part in, or how much she's donated to cancer research? That is principally the same as your recommendation that people who opt out of organ donation should forgo their place in the queue.
No it isn't, they are not using up a limited resource & denying others the right to mastectomy's out of some insane selfish attitude.

They are saying, "Give me a mastectomy, but after I'm dead - I don't want other people to have something I don't need to have a mastectomy".

The two are simply not comparable, the principle isn't the same.
 
Well, that's not exactly true - it's saying, come join our club, we donate organs to each other because we rule!. :p

But yeah, I do know what you mean - which is why I've stressed if I was a little colder it's what I would support (in reality I wouldn't be comfortable with letting people die) but I also can't ignore the fact we have a population of people more than willing to take organs & not willing to give them back.

This annoys me greatly, almost enough to be want them out of the gene pool via the above form of Darwinism (almost enough, but not quite).


Many may be like me though, they may be willing to give their organs freely, but have a significant opposition to how the system manifests the way in which that choice is made (or for some, not made). There are also a whole range of other factors that may mean someone has opted out or may have wished to, they may not be in a position to make an informed choice or have the opportunity to make such a choice for example.

It really is a difficult position, and there is no guarantee that this will increase donations...for example Sweden who have an Opt-Out law have lower comparative donations per capita than the UK does currently.

I really feel that there are better options here that do not require a presumption on the part of the State.
 
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