We're all organ doners now...

[tom_nieto]

For what it’s worth, I don’t think the opt out system is likely to result in a quantum leap in transplant operations. If it does, we’ve got other bottlenecks to deal with.

The law remains the same, the family of a potential donor is approached and they still have the final say. There will still be potentially suitable donors who do not proceed for these reasons. The main factor in successfully recruiting potential organ donors remains high quality specialist nurses in organ donation. While this resource is limited, donors will be limited.

The main thing that this will change (in my view) is that more families will be speaking about organ donation and more will opt in and more families will have thought about the process before those tragic circumstances occur. This should lead to a slight increase.

Even one more transplant operation is a positive thing, so this change in the law is positive.

 

[Narj]

I know I'll probably get battered for this but I really don't like this. It now gives the message that the NHS and therefore the state want to own your body by default.

I've seen comments elsewhere from people that say they will opt out but tell their family to give permission in the event of death on principle.

Anyway, from my perspective: I'll be dead, it really won't matter, but this makes me feel very uncomfortable. If I needed a transplant, to be fair I'd probably head to dignitas rather than spend the rest of my life worrying about further transplants and anti-rejection drugs.

Quality of life looks pretty crap post-transplant although I have no idea if this is different if you can get a transplant from a sibling or parent?

 

[llamadal]

If your not welling to donate, you should be at the very bottom of any transplant list.

 

[tom_nieto]

I know I'll probably get battered for this but I really don't like this. It now gives the message that the NHS and therefore the state own your body by default.

I've seen comments elsewhere from people that say they will opt out but tell their family to give permission in the event of death on principle.

Anyway, from my perspective: I'll be dead, it really won't matter, but this makes me feel very uncomfortable. If I needed a transplant, to be fair I'd probably head to dignitas rather than spend the rest of my life worrying about further transplants and anti-rejection drugs.

Quality of life looks pretty crap post-transplant although I have no idea if this is different if you can get a transplant from a sibling or parent?

There is a clear opt out route. The state absolutely does not own you. You have the ability to clearly state your wishes, just as was the case prior to today. Opting out and then telling family to donate makes little sense, and could stop that family even being approached for potential donation.

Transplantation gives both quality and quantity of life compared to not having a transplant. From a renal point of view, renal failure can affect young and old, from any ethnic background and demographic in society. It is a transformative operation and quality of life is excellent post transplant compared to end stage renal failure.

 

[Delta3D]

I've already signed up ages back but opted out for Cornea's and Tissue.

Not a fan of the idea laying in a coffin with no eyeballs and missing skin/bones and the likes

 

[Narj]

There is a clear opt out route.

There is an obvious, "you are a bit of a ****" gilt trip angle by opting out though. Also what happens to people with no next of kin?

I can see there being a **** up down the line given the lack of joined-up processes in the NHS and suddenly there's an outrage about someone's beliefs being violated.

Also I'm not clear on whether this gives carte blanche for you to be chopped up for medical research as well as donation - this might not sit well with some people. Not trying to be an asshat, just thinking out loud and I do think there are problems with both ways of doing this.

 

[LeMson]

Opted out tho not sure why I would be put in with my health lulz, thx OP

 

[tom_nieto]

There is an obvious, "you are a bit of a ****" angle by opting out though. What happens to people with no next of kin?

I can see there being a **** up down the line given the lack of joined-up processes in the NHS and suddenly there's an outrage about someone's beliefs being violated.

Also I'm not clear on whether this gives carte blanche for you to be chopped up for medical research as well as donation - this might not sit well with some people.

This law does not concern donating your body for medical research. This is a different process entirely.

There isn’t really an angle - either you are willing to donate your organs or you are not. There is a clear pathway for both those options. Those with no next of kin and who haven’t opted out or have an advance directive will be deemed to have given their consent to donate. This will constitute a minority of cases.

As far as beliefs go, the above point is valid. Either you are willing to donate your organs, or you are not. Not sure how this and NHS processes are connected. The family continues to have the final decision.

 

[Narj]

<snip>.

Thanks, I'll go do some further reading.

Given my family history I'm probably not a great candidate anyway but I still haven't completely made my mind up how I feel about this.

It also seems that the criteria for donation fits within a narrow set of circumstances and a limited time window so I can't imagine this will make a huge difference anyway.

What I do wonder is whether there will be less incentive to keep someone on life support for extended periods whilst in a coma when they can benefit several other patients immediately. As you say, family are the ultimate authority so probably not of concern really. Just my paranoid side kicking in.

 

[tom_nieto]

Thanks, I'll go do some further reading.

Given my family history I'm probably not a great candidate anyway but I still haven't completely made my mind up how I feel about this.

It also seems that the criteria for donation fits within a narrow set of circumstances and a limited time window so I can't imagine this will make a huge difference anyway.

What I do wonder is whether there will be less incentive to keep someone on life support for extended periods whilst in a coma when they can benefit several other patients immediately. As you say, family are the ultimate authority so probably not of concern really. Just my paranoid side kicking in.

No problem

You’ve got it spot on with the narrow criteria in a limited time. The donor pool is limited by these factors.

The incentive for prolonging life support won’t change as a result of this law change. This is primarily due to the factors that you identified previously. The suitability in medical terms for becoming a potential donor has not changed. The process of approaching a donor and assessing their suitability is very carefully curated.

 

[marcus_667]

Even if i was to donate i wouldnt be viable due to the blood condition i have

 

[Angilion]

I opted in a long time ago, it's not like you're gonna need them if you die prematurely.

So did I. ~30 years ago IIRC. Carry the card and all that. Now I am reconsidering my decision. On the one hand, I approve of recycling spare parts. On the other hand, I disapprove of it being done without consent and doing it without consent is the sole purpose of changing from opt in to opt out. Which principle matters more to me? I'm not yet sure, but I am leaning towards the principle of consent.

 

[tom_nieto]

So did I. ~30 years ago IIRC. Carry the card and all that. Now I am reconsidering my decision. On the one hand, I approve of recycling spare parts. On the other hand, I disapprove of it being done without consent and doing it without consent is the sole purpose of changing from opt in to opt out. Which principle matters more to me? I'm not yet sure, but I am leaning towards the principle of consent.

There still remains a consent process, although the onus is now on the individual to withdraw their consent. Organ donation is very much done with consent and the process of approaching donor families is difficult and done with amazing compassion and dignity. This process is not changing. The law is a great way of getting everyone talking about it, but it cannot replace high quality (and numerous) specialist nurses in organ donation who do an unbelievable job in very sad circumstances. They are the start of an incredible process which can give life and health to those who otherwise would have no hope.

 

[Jamauk]

Even if i was to donate i wouldnt be viable due to the blood condition i have

I’ve said to my neurologist several times now that I’d happily donate, sadly due to epilepsy medication I’m not able to even if it was just for research purposes, it could indirectly benefit someone further down the line.

 

[Narj]

By the way I'm pretty sure the local kebab shop does "organ doners" going by the looks of it.

 

[Maccy]

I'm amazed anyone would be against this, you can potentially save a life and you'll be dead anyway so what's the issue?!

 

[robfosters]

I'm amazed anyone would be against this, you can potentially save a life and you'll be dead anyway so what's the issue?!

People have stupidly decided that it means the state owning your body, which is ludicrous. Some of gone further and are talking about Chinese style organ harvesting

 

[bloodiedathame]

I wonder which lucky person will get my penis.

 

[GSXRMovistar]

Just surprised how long it has taken to get to this point of it being a default opt in.

I opted in years and years back and I'm of the opinion that if you decide to opt out you should also lose any eligibility for a transplant if you require one (In it to win it and all that!)

 

[Steampunk]

I know someone who died recently. Her organs went to four other people, including two children. Her death gave a new lease of life (maybe even saved another life) for quite a number of people.

It's been shown time and time again that with opt-in systems, people don't bother though they often in principle agree with donating their organs after death. An opt-out system means you're not asking grieving relatives to donate the organs of a loved one as soon as they die (the window to reuse those organs is surprisingly small). They will often refuse as a knee-jerk response, because the person they love has just died.

Other opt-out systems around the world have shown that it helps a great many people just by making more organs available for transplant that would otherwise just go into the ground or the fire.

I'm pretty sure the people who are squeamish about it (it really won't affect you after you're dead) would have a different view if it was them or a family member waiting for the gift of an organ that might save or transform their lives. Just ask someone who's had a kidney, lung, or heart transplant what that organ donation meant to them and their families. Life is precious, and if yours is over, there's many worse things you could do than save somebody else's.