@Potterphile Personally, I highly doubt it. I am sure that is the last thing on a paramedics mind when they are trying to save the life of their patient. Playing devils advocate here though (keep in mind, my license does have organ donor on it), but why do we NEED to have it listed on our license? If my husband knows I want my organs donated, should something happen - do I really need to have it listed on my license too?
Sometimes action needs to be taken immediately after death. It could take a while to locate next of kin. (Think of an unmarried person living across the country from their parents) and having it on your license can allow doctors to take action to preserve the organs during those first minutes/hours.
@Potterphile Personally, I highly doubt it. I am sure that is the last thing on a paramedics mind when they are trying to save the life of their patient. Playing devils advocate here though (keep in mind, my license does have organ donor on it), but why do we NEED to have it listed on our license? If my husband knows I want my organs donated, should something happen - do I really need to have it listed on my license too?
Sometimes action needs to be taken immediately after death. It could take a while to locate next of kin. (Think of an unmarried person living across the country from their parents) and having it on your license can allow doctors to take action to preserve the organs during those first minutes/hours.
oh yea - for people in that situation, 100% agree. I meant more for me personally (married plus mom and three sisters who all live close and are listed as emergency contacts in both my phone and medical files).
And IDK - part of me would probably be pissed if something happened to someone in my family and the doctors started harvesting organs before I was able to get there and 'say goodbye'. Maybe not - man I hate thinking about this stuff!!
UO: I find the notion that a paramedic would consider your organ donor status as they are deciding whether or not to save you almost as offensive as the idea that a L&D nurse would give a different level of care to a patient who brought a gift.
UO: I find the notion that a paramedic would consider your organ donor status as they are deciding whether or not to save you almost as offensive as the idea that a L&D nurse would give a different level of care to a patient who brought a gift.
That was my UO aswell and was planning to reword my previous post. Ditto. And I thought I was the conspiracy theorist..
Your heart really must be perfusing your organs for them to be able to donate. So in most cases, the heart is still able to work, it's the brain that has not been perfused or respiratory arrest has occurred. Determining brain death in an individual, takes almost a full day. There are a series of tests that must be performed and then again 6-8 hours later, they must be performed again. After brain death is confirmed, gift of hope is contacted. They then talk to next of kin. If next of kin agrees (and usually they do if the license says organ donor), then testing begins on the organs to determine the markers and who would be a match. The organs go to the best match at the highest level of the list. It's actually a fairly long process as the surgeons need to know exactly what they are dealing with and where the organs are going and during this time the organs need to be properly perfused. It's a perfect storm. I have never worked for gift of hope or any other donation procurement company, so if someone has better insight they can correct me or explain it better. I was an RN in a pediatric ICU and cardiac ICU so I have a little experience with organ donation and the testing that is involved. When I had to respond to pediatric codes in the ED, I had no idea the status of the patient's organ donation preference. I can't imagine why or how a paramedic arriving on scene would know you are an organ donor. Their first priority should be life supporting measures and revival. Organ donation comes after brain death is established.
Any sort of "reveal" drives me nuts. But college reveal? What makes you think that ANYONE cares as much about what you're revealing than you? No one is losing sleep over where your child is going. Nor will they give it a second thought after.
Its just part of the social media generation where everything has to be documented and shown off. If there wasn't a place to post it, prom proposals wouldn't even happen. I'm guilty of being an Instagram over-sharer of my kid but I don't think anyone cares, nor thinks she's that cute (tbh most days I don't think she's that cute).
While I'm purging my "no1curr" thoughts, for the love of God, NO ONE thinks your child is as cute as you do. Nor are they. Stop entering them in contests and asking people to vote for them. Your child isn't cute. Really. They're not.
This made me laugh so hard . I'm not on social media (namely FB) anymore but I remember when I was people would constantly post these requests to vote for their kid. And I'd be sitting there like um this kid isn't even cute?
Now of course now that I'm a parent, I think my daughter is the cutest kid in the entire universe and I sort of understand their obliviousness. But still I know better than to try and enter her into a next Gerber baby contest lol.
BFP May 2013 - MMC at 8 weeks BFP September 2013 - MMC at 12 weeks BFP February 2014 - early loss/CP at 4.5 weeks BFP May 2014 - MMC/ complete molar pregnancy at 11 weeks BFP December 2015 - DD born 8/18/2015 BFP November 2016 - pending...
Genuinely wondering and not trying to sound snarky but when they're performing lifesaving measures (in an ambulance for example), do they really pull out your drivers license to see if you're an organ donor? I thought that was more so for situations where you're already hospitalized and your next of kin/power of attorney/spouse would have the ability to "override" so to speak the organ donor classification and say the medical staff should prioritize your life.
I can't speak to other states, but in Louisiana anything short of full life-saving measures (absent a health directive prohibiting these) amounts to medical malpractice. The idea that medical professionals would not give the standard of care in an emergency situation because of an organ donor designation is false and could trigger criminal and civil penalties as well as sanctions from the medical licensing board.
@rae1-3 directives on organ donation is included in any POA I've encountered or personally drafted. I think it is pretty standard on hospital form directives as well.
@Potterphile Personally, I highly doubt it. I am sure that is the last thing on a paramedics mind when they are trying to save the life of their patient. Playing devils advocate here though (keep in mind, my license does have organ donor on it), but why do we NEED to have it listed on our license? If my husband knows I want my organs donated, should something happen - do I really need to have it listed on my license too?
Sometimes action needs to be taken immediately after death. It could take a while to locate next of kin. (Think of an unmarried person living across the country from their parents) and having it on your license can allow doctors to take action to preserve the organs during those first minutes/hours.
oh yea - for people in that situation, 100% agree. I meant more for me personally (married plus mom and three sisters who all live close and are listed as emergency contacts in both my phone and medical files).
And IDK - part of me would probably be pissed if something happened to someone in my family and the doctors started harvesting organs before I was able to get there and 'say goodbye'. Maybe not - man I hate thinking about this stuff!!
Lurking from June.
My first husband was killed in an automobile accident, and was a registered organ donor so I have extremely personal knowledge of it. They did not hold off any lifesaving measures because of it. They asked permission before they harvested anything. They weren't able to use any organs, but were able to use things like eyes, ect. It was a comfort to me as his widow to know that the tragedy was helping others.
And I have known so many people that have benefited from donated organs. YES to all the donations.
People who judge other people for not having the organ donation check box marked on their license make me mad. So I don't have it checked on my license. Who cares! My husband and direct family knows that I want them donated if anything were to happen to me and I want them to be able to make that call if anything were to happen to me. No ones business what is or is not on my license and the idea that someone is judging me for it is stupid. Worry about yourself.
@merrylea I am so sorry to hear your story. But I am glad you found comfort in his tragedy helping others.
Again, I am a registered organ donor. And I don't think paramedics (or any medical professional) would withhold life-saving measures because of it. Not sure if that got misconstrued somewhere in this back and forth, but wanted to clarify.
Just because I'm not sure if I was misunderstood- I have organ donor on my license. I've never worried that I wouldn't have my life saved because of it. Sorry if I wasn't clear but what I was trying to explain is that it's my understanding that in order to do anything other than save your life they have to have "permission" and that would have to come from your next of kin or power of attorney. Basically 100% agree with all of what @acstec1 said... but I'm not a medical professional so minus all that actually smart medical stuff.
Also, I'm not sure if it's on all health directives but the ones I've seen have had organ donation as well as other specifics like whether or not you want your entire body to be donated to science or whether you only want your body to be used for transplant versus research.
I'm not a paramedic but I've been in resuscitation efforts in the hospital and no one has ever checked organ donation status as part of decision making during that process. That should have no bearing on your care at any point in time. That being said, the decision to donate is personal, and as amazing and wonderful as it is when people do donate, I don't think it's my place to tell people that they 100% need to donate or have that box checked off, or whatever.
TTC history in spoiler
Me: 31 Him: 37 Married: Oct 2015 Baby G born June 2017 TTC#2: July 2018 BFP #2: 2/6/19 MC 3/14/19 BFP#3 from IUI #2: 6/30/20 EDD 3/9/21
I judge people who opt out of organ donation on their driver's license.
Edit for clarity.
This! I wish it were an opt out system instead of opt in. I saw an ad once that asked "if you needed an organ transplant would you get one? Sign your donor card today" and thought it was awesome. People don't think about being the one needing the donation because who wants to think about that.
There's a study on the default option for organ donations - it makes a HUGE difference. At the time of the study (Johnson & Goldstein, 2003), Denmark, the Netherlands, the UK, and Germany had a 2-20% consent rate, while Austria, Belgium, France, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, and Sweden had consent rates from 86-99.9%. The only difference is that the former group is opt-in, and the latter is opt-out.
When my father needed a bone marrow transplant, his coworkers organized a "Be the Match" drive, which got like 200 people's cheeks swabbed and put into the marrow transplant database. None of them were a match for my father, so they used his brother who wasn't a perfect match - but it worked. Meanwhile, about a year later, one of those people was called because he was a perfect match for someone else. He gave bone marrow to a total stranger. It was an amazing story.
It's such a noble thing to donate from your own body. I think it says a lot about one's generosity and selflessness.
UO: I am so relieved my kid's daycare doesn't bother me with the details of his day. When I pick him up, they give me a few sentences on what he did or something cute he said. And obviously tell me anything major. But I have no idea what or how much he ate or slept, or didn't, how many diapers he went through, etc. A friend showed me the app his kid's daycare uses. The "data" was overwhelming. I don't want or need that stuff. It's not that interesting and I don't need that to know if my kid is happy and healthy.
@virginiaunicorn11 the app sounds like my dog walkers log for our pups. We come home everyday to a detailed note saying things like "Cooper seemed a little down today. He sniffed his normal spots with less vigor than usual." The depth of detail in the notes always makes me laugh.
@virginiaunicorn11 that is so awesome!! I didn't even know the bone marrow database existed until a few weeks ago. One of my sisters apparently was in the database and got a call about a baby in France and she ended up donating for him. So awesome to be able to do something like that. I will probably get added to the database after LO is born.
@virginiaunicorn11 the app sounds like my dog walkers log for our pups. We come home everyday to a detailed note saying things like "Cooper seemed a little down today. He sniffed his normal spots with less vigor than usual." The depth of detail in the notes always makes me laugh.
This made me laugh. Do they do it to be funny, or they really think you want all that info? This reminds me of a sub we have here at school who leaves multiple handwritten pages of notes each day. She's funny though. She pokes fun of little things teenagers do, or how they try to get away with stuff when they think the sub doesn't know better.
Our DC has an app that tells me about every nap, meal, snack and potty. I usually don't even look at it, but sometimes I'll look and see what he had for lunch and if he ate it, just so I can talk to DS about it. He's almost 3, so I don't get much when I say "How was your day" but if I say "Did you have ___ for lunch? Did you like it?" it turns into a cute little toddler conversation.
@AdaByron the comical part is I don't think they do it to be funny. Both dogs have their own "journal" where they keep track of these ridiculously minute details of the dog walker's 20-minute interaction with each dog. We never requested it either. Our security system lets us know when they get to the house so it's not like we need the note to know they were there.
This may be a stupid question how do you donate bone marrow if they swab your cheek to see if you're a match I assume it's still a blood draw? Don't let all my tattoos fool you- I faint at the sight of a flu shot needle. Needless to say I don't plan to donate. My husband has O- and donates every blood drive at his work, every 3 months I believe, because his blood is universal. His work (library of congress, in D.C.) actually gives you 3 hours of admin leave if you donate which I think is great. More hours if you donate plasma but he hasn't done that yet.
@virginiaunicorn11 the app sounds like my dog walkers log for our pups. We come home everyday to a detailed note saying things like "Cooper seemed a little down today. He sniffed his normal spots with less vigor than usual." The depth of detail in the notes always makes me laugh.
We used to have two cats and our cat sitter was an over the top cat lady. She had to visit twice per day because one cat neeed insulin and each visit she would write at least half a page on what they did, who she thought pooped and a bunch of other crap I didn't care about.
This may be a stupid question how do you donate bone marrow if they swab your cheek to see if you're a match I assume it's still a blood draw? Don't let all my tattoos fool you- I faint at the sight of a flu shot needle. Needless to say I don't plan to donate. My husband has O- and donates every blood drive at his work, every 3 months I believe, because his blood is universal. His work (library of congress, in D.C.) actually gives you 3 hours of admin leave if you donate which I think is great. More hours if you donate plasma but he hasn't done that yet.
So bone marrow harvest is very different from a blood draw. The cheek swab just determines if you're a match. The actual marrow harvest is a procedure where you are typically under general anesthesia and they drill into your hip to collect the marrow from your bone.
This may be a stupid question how do you donate bone marrow if they swab your cheek to see if you're a match I assume it's still a blood draw? Don't let all my tattoos fool you- I faint at the sight of a flu shot needle. Needless to say I don't plan to donate. My husband has O- and donates every blood drive at his work, every 3 months I believe, because his blood is universal. His work (library of congress, in D.C.) actually gives you 3 hours of admin leave if you donate which I think is great. More hours if you donate plasma but he hasn't done that yet.
This is me and my H too. I donated blood one time and almost passed out, and the nurse was basically like "ya know, it's ok if you never want to do this again." But my H donates blood on a regular basis. Like one time he told me "I was out running errands and I was kinda thirsty, so I stopped and donated blood just to get a Mt. Dew." LOL Sometimes they'll call and ask him to donate blood or plasma if there is a need. And he's on the bone marrow registry, so if he ever found out he was a match for someone, I'm sure he'd go donate. But from what I understand, donating bone marrow is not as easy, and also is painful. I try not to think about it.
I'm on the bone marrow registry and a couple years back got a call that I was a potential match for a young boy. They ended up finding somebody who was a better match than I was but because I was considered a preliminary match they give me a little more information about the process. From what I understand you can do the hip drilling situation or depending on what the need of the patient is, there are some alternative process that is essentially like large scale apheresis where they filter some sort of free-floating marrow cells out of your blood and then put the rest back into you.
I used to donate regularly, but I'm worried I won't be able to anymore when we move back because we've spent so much time in the U.K. I'm O- and "the vampires" (our affectionate term for the Red Cross) called every 8-12 weeks to tell us how desperate they were for donations.
I'm also an organ donor and I don't believe for a second that that would impact the medical care I received.
**trigger warning - loss**
When we lost our daughter we tried to have her organs donated but they couldn't do it because she was a preemie. It hurt even more two weeks later when my friend's toddler passed away due to complications with a heart defect and she was never able to get on a transplant list. For me, organ donation is cathartic with loss; it helps to know that your loved one continues to help others even after they are gone.
@virginiaunicorn11 that is so awesome!! I didn't even know the bone marrow database existed until a few weeks ago. One of my sisters apparently was in the database and got a call about a baby in France and she ended up donating for him. So awesome to be able to do something like that. I will probably get added to the database after LO is born.
That's amazing! What a miracle for that family.
@Xath That's a doubly heartbreaking story. I'm so sorry, lady.
Thanks for the explanation, everyone. Much more in depth than I thought it was going to be!!
Im so sorry @Xath, a situation like that, albeit heartbreaking and I wish you didn't have to experience that, really gives a new perspective on organ donation!
@oheliza44 and everyone else who commented: It might not be your dog sitters fault that they left those notes. I worked for a pet sitting company, and I had to leave notes and give updates way. too. much. for pets, so I would have to make up stuff like that. Like texting owners three times a day. Some of it was policy, some of my clients were just nuts. I had an owner freak the f out because I didn't respond to her text within one hour. For a cat. Fun fact: I was driving and couldn't text her back. But between the crazy owners and my inability to handle security systems (aka I can't remember numbers right, and I actually had the cops show up once) I had to quit that job even though it paid well and I loved the animals. Anyways, just letting you know why that's a thing.
Hubby and Me Friends since 2008 Started dating: July 1st, 2013 Engaged: July 1st, 2014 Married: July 1st, 2016 R born: July 8th, 2017 N born: June 30th, 2019 Baby #3 Due: July 7th, 2022 (maybe I only ovulate in October XD)
@yellow1daisy If my memory serves, I believe your daughter photobombed a picture you posted once and I thought she was adorable!!! Enter her into the gerber baby or gap baby contest!
People who judge other people for not having the organ donation check box marked on their license make me mad. So I don't have it checked on my license. Who cares! My husband and direct family knows that I want them donated if anything were to happen to me and I want them to be able to make that call if anything were to happen to me. No ones business what is or is not on my license and the idea that someone is judging me for it is stupid. Worry about yourself.
Who cares? I'm pretty sure people who are on the organ donation list care. Why do you care what happens to your organs after you die? What if your next of kin wasn't able to be contacted in time? I'm sure your opinion would change if you or someone you cared for was on the organ donation list.
People who judge other people for not having the organ donation check box marked on their license make me mad. So I don't have it checked on my license. Who cares! My husband and direct family knows that I want them donated if anything were to happen to me and I want them to be able to make that call if anything were to happen to me. No ones business what is or is not on my license and the idea that someone is judging me for it is stupid. Worry about yourself.
Who cares? I'm pretty sure people who are on the organ donation list care. Why do you care what happens to your organs after you die? What if your next of kin wasn't able to be contacted in time? I'm sure your opinion would change if you or someone you cared for was on the organ donation list.
Actually, my dad is on that list. And again it's my body and my decision. I'm fully aware and I have made the decision to not have it on my drivers license. Not your decision or place to guilt me or anyone else that chooses not to have it on there for various reasons.
I think you guys are over thinking organ donation. When most of us die, we will not be candidates for donation because specific circumstances need to happen for the organs to be viable with time to find appropriate matches. And someone could correct me if I am wrong- but even if your license says organ donation, they still have to have next of kin's permission which is why it's important that your family knows your wishes. I also think family can opt to donate your organs even if your license doesn't have the donation sticker on it.
FTR- I am pro-donation, and would love to have my organs donated to help save a life if mine has been lost.
@Xath - I can't donate blood because I lived in the UK during a certain time period. I always joke that if I went back to UK they would happily take my 'tainted' blood.
***** TTCAL/Forever Buddy to Cour10e****** -m/c at 11w2d due to partial molar 2008 -m/c #2 2009 Beautiful daughter born February 2011 **Ultimate TTCALer 2009**
I think the decision to become an organ donor is deeply personal no one's business except the individual making the decision. I'm listed as an organ donor but I would never call out someone because they choose not to be. Their body their rules.
The benefits for the donor include: - Reduced risk for heart attack and cardiovascular disease - Reduced risk for certain cancers - 650 calories burned per donation
Re: Unpopular Opinions
And IDK - part of me would probably be pissed if something happened to someone in my family and the doctors started harvesting organs before I was able to get there and 'say goodbye'. Maybe not - man I hate thinking about this stuff!!
Ditto.
And I thought I was the conspiracy theorist..
I have never worked for gift of hope or any other donation procurement company, so if someone has better insight they can correct me or explain it better. I was an RN in a pediatric ICU and cardiac ICU so I have a little experience with organ donation and the testing that is involved. When I had to respond to pediatric codes in the ED, I had no idea the status of the patient's organ donation preference. I can't imagine why or how a paramedic arriving on scene would know you are an organ donor. Their first priority should be life supporting measures and revival. Organ donation comes after brain death is established.
Now of course now that I'm a parent, I think my daughter is the cutest kid in the entire universe and I sort of understand their obliviousness. But still I know better than to try and enter her into a next Gerber baby contest lol.
BFP September 2013 - MMC at 12 weeks
BFP February 2014 - early loss/CP at 4.5 weeks
BFP May 2014 - MMC/ complete molar pregnancy at 11 weeks
BFP December 2015 - DD born 8/18/2015
BFP November 2016 - pending...
@rae1-3 directives on organ donation is included in any POA I've encountered or personally drafted. I think it is pretty standard on hospital form directives as well.
My first husband was killed in an automobile accident, and was a registered organ donor so I have extremely personal knowledge of it. They did not hold off any lifesaving measures because of it. They asked permission before they harvested anything. They weren't able to use any organs, but were able to use things like eyes, ect. It was a comfort to me as his widow to know that the tragedy was helping others.
And I have known so many people that have benefited from donated organs. YES to all the donations.
I'm serious.
Again, I am a registered organ donor. And I don't think paramedics (or any medical professional) would withhold life-saving measures because of it. Not sure if that got misconstrued somewhere in this back and forth, but wanted to clarify.
Also, I'm not sure if it's on all health directives but the ones I've seen have had organ donation as well as other specifics like whether or not you want your entire body to be donated to science or whether you only want your body to be used for transplant versus research.
Married: Oct 2015
Baby G born June 2017
TTC#2: July 2018
BFP #2: 2/6/19 MC 3/14/19
BFP#3 from IUI #2: 6/30/20 EDD 3/9/21
@BusyZee I think you're the last person here that needs to be stirring the pot.
Married: 06-2024
TTC #1: Since November 2015
Restarted TTC "count" Oct. 2016
due to previous issues.
***TW***
BFP: 11/4/2016
BFP: 07/17/2024
It's such a noble thing to donate from your own body. I think it says a lot about one's generosity and selflessness.
UO: I am so relieved my kid's daycare doesn't bother me with the details of his day. When I pick him up, they give me a few sentences on what he did or something cute he said. And obviously tell me anything major. But I have no idea what or how much he ate or slept, or didn't, how many diapers he went through, etc.
A friend showed me the app his kid's daycare uses. The "data" was overwhelming. I don't want or need that stuff. It's not that interesting and I don't need that to know if my kid is happy and healthy.
Our DC has an app that tells me about every nap, meal, snack and potty. I usually don't even look at it, but sometimes I'll look and see what he had for lunch and if he ate it, just so I can talk to DS about it. He's almost 3, so I don't get much when I say "How was your day" but if I say "Did you have ___ for lunch? Did you like it?" it turns into a cute little toddler conversation.
ETA: To add tag. Also to add, I wouldn't be so quick to throw out that "insult" if I were you either.
I'm also an organ donor and I don't believe for a second that that would impact the medical care I received.
**trigger warning - loss**
When we lost our daughter we tried to have her organs donated but they couldn't do it because she was a preemie. It hurt even more two weeks later when my friend's toddler passed away due to complications with a heart defect and she was never able to get on a transplant list. For me, organ donation is cathartic with loss; it helps to know that your loved one continues to help others even after they are gone.
DS1 - 7/2011, DD 12/2012, DS2 - 4/2014, MMC - 12/2015
@Xath That's a doubly heartbreaking story. I'm so sorry, lady.
Im so sorry @Xath, a situation like that, albeit heartbreaking and I wish you didn't have to experience that, really gives a new perspective on organ donation!
Friends since 2008
Started dating: July 1st, 2013
Engaged: July 1st, 2014
Married: July 1st, 2016
R born: July 8th, 2017
N born: June 30th, 2019
Baby #3 Due: July 7th, 2022
(maybe I only ovulate in October XD)
@yellow1daisy If my memory serves, I believe your daughter photobombed a picture you posted once and I thought she was adorable!!! Enter her into the gerber baby or gap baby contest!
FTR- I am pro-donation, and would love to have my organs donated to help save a life if mine has been lost.
@Xath - I can't donate blood because I lived in the UK during a certain time period. I always joke that if I went back to UK they would happily take my 'tainted' blood.
-m/c at 11w2d due to partial molar 2008 -m/c #2 2009
Beautiful daughter born February 2011
**Ultimate TTCALer 2009**
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2333882/Donating-blood-good-YOUR-health-receiver.html
The benefits for the donor include:
- Reduced risk for heart attack and cardiovascular disease
- Reduced risk for certain cancers
- 650 calories burned per donation
DS1 - 7/2011, DD 12/2012, DS2 - 4/2014, MMC - 12/2015