UO

cagoldi · August 2014

Organ donation should be compulsory and allow people to opt-out rather than having them opt-in.

fitmama418 · August 2014

cagoldi said:

Organ donation should be compulsory and allow people to opt-out rather than having them opt-in.

Ok I'll bite. Why?

cagoldi · August 2014

Many reasons. Chief among them is the fact that it would increase the rate of donation and alleviate a serious shortage. It would also almost completely eliminate tampering with waiting lists. It could bring a stop to organ trafficking and transplant tourism.

fitmama418 · August 2014

After ZERO PSL's last fall since I didn't consume caffeine with pregnant...I'm having ALL the PSL's this fall and you can't stop me.

fitmama418 · August 2014

flitterin said:

I was a decaf PSL slut last fall. I am anxiously awaiting hitting up the drive through and being another annoying white girl getting her drink. I'm even wearing boots for the occasion

Uggs with jeans tucked in right? Or Uggs with leggings and boot socks? Don't forget your chunky scarf too!

cagoldi · August 2014

BrittAnnie19 said:
I'm with @cagoldi on organ donation and in general have a lot of feels about what to do with bodies postmortum. This is a morbid topic and I don't want to bring down the excitement of PSLs, but I think spending anything on a coffin is ridiculous. It's such a racket that people feel guilted into buying $5000 boxes that will just be buried. Your loved one doesn't care about the satin lining. I also think single site burials don't make much sense either and use up land unnecessarily.

Totally. I ask my dad what he wants us to do with him and he says cremate everything except his head and hands, put the ashes in a coffee can, and put his head on top with his hands sticking out of his ears. Obviously a joke but when I press for a serious answer he says just throw him into any old box.

ETA: a friend of mine passed away last year and left behind a 9 year-old son. It was a pretty elaborate event at a very fancy cemetery. The deceased did not have a lot of money, and it just seemed like a shame to spend so much on the funeral with money his ex could really use to raise their son.

[Deleted User] · August 2014

RE organ donation: I've always said to give as much of me away as possible if/when it comes to that. Honestly I'm ok donating my body to science for whatever. Once I'm gone I'm gone and if I can help someone else in the process then great! I do understand some people have religious beliefs when it comes to burial so I get that is a factor. But personally I would love to help someone when my time is up.

barista411 · August 2014

keight38 said:
RE organ donation: I've always said to give as much of me away as possible if/when it comes to that. Honestly I'm ok donating my body to science for whatever. Once I'm gone I'm gone and if I can help someone else in the process then great! I do understand some people have religious beliefs when it comes to burial so I get that is a factor. But personally I would love to help someone when my time is up.

This is where I'm at. After I'm gone my physical body isn't going to be doing me much good. I figure I might as well help as many people as I can on my way out.

cagoldi · August 2014

LJGS1010 said:

Organ donation should be compulsory and allow people to opt-out rather than having them opt-in.
I will play devil's advocate. While I personally believe in organ donation, bodily autonomy - even in death - isn't something I like the government regulating. If you can force organ donation, what else can you force? What can you completely prohibit? Abortion? Blood donation?

I understand that argument. It's the most valid criticism. I just think that since it is in death it's okay to implement this policy. Since people have the ability to opt-out they aren't exactly forced to do it, although admittedly the burden is on the individual to take that extra step if they have other wishes for their remains.

cagoldi · August 2014

@LJGS1010 These are all good questions. There would have to be a system in place for those without the directive, DL, or ID. I'm not sure what mechanism would be used here, but it's been a successful practice in many European countries. Our current donor list operates under a contract granted by DHHS, so it already costs us money. It would cost more to capture all the information needed to match donors with recipients when many more are available but I'm fine with that expense as it would greatly improve the quality and length of life for those who require the organs.

The way I understand it to work in certain countries that do have an opt-out system there are circumstances under which the family can make the decision on their behalf.

Kim22 · August 2014

Not an UO but on the topic of organ donations. My SIL will be getting a kidney on September 10 from a living donor. We just found out yesterday. Please think of her and her donor.

Kim22 · August 2014

My UO: I am a teacher and I think summer assignments are stupid. My soon-to-be second grader just did his today in 5 minutes. My students in middle school get like a 20 page math packet. I have 100 students handing me 20 pages of work. The first week of school is nuts enough without 2,000 pages of busy work to look at.

TJHine · August 2014

RE: Organ donation. As someone that was called ON THE NIGHT of my husband's death by some lady that claimed at first she was just checking in to see how I was doing, and then started asking if they could take my husband's eyes (all of his other organs were too damaged), I have a lot of feelings about this. I said no, because his wallet was lost and I genuinely didn't know if he was a donor or not, just not something we ever talked about. I would have been pretty upset if they told me too bad we can do it because everyone is opted in and you don't have proof he opted out. Maybe that makes me selfish.

Also, regarding burials - even getting cremated and getting the least expensive box is ridiculous. I'm fairly certain you would have to purchase a box from a funeral director or the like. Ashes are pretty regulated, I had to sign a million things and tell them where I was keeping them, and what I was doing with them. Did you know it is illegal to spread ashes?

ETA: Sorry I'm not sure this all makes sense. Kind of a trigger topic for me. Don't mind the crazy lady over here

cagoldi · August 2014

@LJGS1010 I get that, and you're right. But you also have black-market organs and people in first-world nations traveling to impoverished countries to obtain them. Those who can afford to buy an organ can exploit those who are desperate enough to sell one.

TJHine · August 2014

@Finnaroo‌ You are right, tact is important. This woman did not have any whatsoever. I know time is of the essence, but it still sucks big time be on the receiving end of that call especially when it was unexpected.

TJHine · August 2014

ggandlee said:
I am loving the organ donation debate. I absolutely agree wholeheartedly that we need more organ donors. Organs are a very limited and precious resource, particularly small pediatric sized organs. While most of me loves the idea of making organ transplantation an opt out process, ultimately I agree with @LJGS1010. There are just way too many ethical issues to consider. Organ donation needs more publicity and needs to be discussed more routinely. PCPs should discuss it with their patients to have on record.
This goes along with advanced directive wishes. It is extremely difficult for family members to decide what to do for a loved one when they have never discussed end of life issues. Everyone should have a serious conversation with their loved ones about what to do should there be some terrible irreversible condition, accident, etc- leave them on a ventilator for a long period of time, withdraw support, continue all resuscitative efforts, donate organs, etc.
It is a hard, emotional subject and most people don't like to talk about death, but it is important and can make really difficult decisions easier for your family later on if something happens.

I totally agree, and feel like I learned all of this the hard way. The only thing I knew for sure was DH wanted to be cremated - otherwise it was just not something we discussed, although I'm sure we would have in the future. It makes that time very stressful and leaves you unsure if you made the right choice. Trust me, talk to your loved ones ladies, will make that time less stressful for sure.

88sharonlee · August 2014

While I understand how great organ donation is and I keep saying I will sign up some day, I have a hard time truly thinking that if I were to pass on my body would be dissected! I just think that while I will have no use for my body, it's still a sacred thing and should be protected and cared for.

So organ donation must be something you deliberately and with full mental clarity chose to do and you must inform your loved ones so that this wish is honored. No way can any organization take control of my body or my beloved husband, brother, child etc!

I'm hoping when I'm 90, if I still have something worth donating, I'll be glad to share.

That said it would be great if there was a campaign to encourage people to donate and I love @ggandlee‌ idea that this should be something you discuss with your doctor and goes on your medical records. Much better than the DMV!

Then you could specify and discuss which organs you want to donate etc.

Also, when my father passed we selected a simple pine box and we were told that in Jewish tradition, the simpler the better, so it was an easy decision to make and felt right.

Deep conversations today!

cagoldi · August 2014

I've had this discussion with DH and my parents and I'm a registered donor. If I hadn't and something were to happen to me I like to think they would know I would want to help people and the fact that harvesting my organs would allow someone else to live would bring them some measure of comfort. I understand there is a religious aspect to this debate as well, but as far as I'm concerned when I'm gone, I'm gone.

ETA: I just realized that this could be a particularly sensitive topic for a couple ladies that lost loved ones this week. I'm sorry if this discussion caused any additional grief.

cagoldi · August 2014

LJGS1010 said:

Yez9 said:

Why not mandatory organ donation for everyone with a driver's license but done so that it's explained at the time/included in drivers ed, etc. with a box to check either way in a prominent place on the form and a separate signature required for that choice. It's not even an opt out at that point. It's a "you can't get your license until you decide" thing.

And @TJHine‌ you continue to amaze me with your strength. So privileged to interact with you.‌

You would really condition receipt of a driver's license on making a 16-17 year old decide whether they want to be an organ donor????

I don't even know what to say about that.

Driving is not a constitutional right, but it sure as hell feels wrong to me to tell a teenager -- or anyone, for that matter -- that they are required to make an important decision like that in order to get where they want to go.

I really don't have a problem with this. Perhaps it's a good idea to have teenagers consider their own mortality before they get behind the wheel of a car. I don't think I was the world's most mature 16 year-old, but the thought of what happens to various parts of my body after I die would not have been disturbing to me.

We let teenagers make other important decisions about what to do with their bodies all the time, such as accessing BC and elective abortions.

I understand your concern about granting the license being predicated on making this decision but I suspect anyone that feels uncertain about it would choose to opt-out.

cagoldi · August 2014

kamakaziartist said:
I've always been an organ donor on my license. My mother threw a for and claimed that since I had that on my license, the EMTs would cut out any organs they could and leave my body on the side of the road. She was sure of it. She had heard it happened to my great aunt's daughter's cousin's family friend's cousin twice removed.

She has a flair for the dramz.

This does happen in China, except they don't wait for you to die. They execute you and parcel off your various parts to wealthy Americans that go there in search of them. Scarcity creates the demand.

mskatiep · August 2014

LJGS1010 said:

Yez9 said:

Why not mandatory organ donation for everyone with a driver's license but done so that it's explained at the time/included in drivers ed, etc. with a box to check either way in a prominent place on the form and a separate signature required for that choice. It's not even an opt out at that point. It's a "you can't get your license until you decide" thing.

And @TJHine‌ you continue to amaze me with your strength. So privileged to interact with you.‌

You would really condition receipt of a driver's license on making a 16-17 year old decide whether they want to be an organ donor????

I don't even know what to say about that.

Driving is not a constitutional right, but it sure as hell feels wrong to me to tell a teenager -- or anyone, for that matter -- that they are required to make an important decision like that in order to get where they want to go.

------------
In this situation wouldn't it still be opt in? If at 16 they don't feel ready to make that decision, then indicate no. They can always change their mind (either way.) I have been an organ donor since I got my learner's permit at 14. I knew exactly what it ment, and was very specifically asked when I got my DL.

PeachsMama · August 2014

mskatiep said:

LJGS1010 said:

Yez9 said:

Why not mandatory organ donation for everyone with a driver's license but done so that it's explained at the time/included in drivers ed, etc. with a box to check either way in a prominent place on the form and a separate signature required for that choice. It's not even an opt out at that point. It's a "you can't get your license until you decide" thing.

And @TJHine‌ you continue to amaze me with your strength. So privileged to interact with you.‌

You would really condition receipt of a driver's license on making a 16-17 year old decide whether they want to be an organ donor????

I don't even know what to say about that.

Driving is not a constitutional right, but it sure as hell feels wrong to me to tell a teenager -- or anyone, for that matter -- that they are required to make an important decision like that in order to get where they want to go.

------------
In this situation wouldn't it still be opt in? If at 16 they don't feel ready to make that decision, then indicate no. They can always change their mind (either way.) I have been an organ donor since I got my learner's permit at 14. I knew exactly what it ment, and was very specifically asked when I got my DL.

Same. And like @Yez9‌ I also told DH to let them have anything usable and burn the rest. Spread the ashes on my farm right where we spread my grandpas.

UO

Re: UO

Choose Another Board

Search Boards