General Chat

Teresa Le THEM decide! I think there IS a cut off point though - its on the website I think. OC

slight change of subject, but I just wondered at what age are your organs no longer viable for transplant?

I agree with the new law although I am against organ donation. Lucia

When my brother was killed in a motorcycle accident we found a donor card in his wallet......he was 20....i was 18....mum knew nothing about him ever having this card so asked me if i thought it was what he wanted. I was so cut up about what had just happened i really cudnt stand the thought of it and said no. A lot of decisions were left to me.......ie..did he want burial or cremation etc.....and i should know being his brother....it was a lot to take in and i really regret now not allowing his organs to be used. Being older...and a little wiser...i'm all for it now. Nick

I don't carry a donor card at all sorry. If anyone else can see better out of these eyes, then they're a better person than me. The Liver, well, we wont go into that. The heart, I think, is in co-hoots with the liver! And the brain, sorry malfuntions!! The only things that work in this bod are the kidneys, hey got to have something going for me! Kim

Yes Teresa , I do believe in organ transplants, but I don't care for the idea that there are those unwilling to give but more than happy to take............ this may not matter to most... but it does to me.. As for ethical, well I and many others would like the benefits provided by BUPA............but I can not afford them so I may die for lack of the services they provide..........I am sure BUPA don't believe they are ethically obliged to help me

Yes Theresa, that's right, it's been around years. I admit though, I haven't seen anything about it for years - don't think it's well advertised. Also you used to see donor cards available everywhere, but I couldn't tell you the last time I saw one.

I agree with the new law although would prefer the opportunity to opt out rather than in. I do have a card and have registered, but have to admit I haven't always got the card on me. Would they check the dtabase, are theya ble to do this in hospitals? Then they wouldn't be relying on a card being carried. I don't like the idea of only people who have registed as donors being on the list to be given parts Colin, don't think that would be ethical. Ann Glos

AL Yes there is, but it is not compulsory, you actually opt IN. In other countries you have to opt OUT if you do not want to donate.

Colin, because then there will be even less organs available for transplant. The idea is to have more organs available, and this new law enables a persons wishes to be respected, regardless of what the relatives may feel at the time. Do you not agree with organ transplant Colin?

There is already a register of those willing to donate organs. I went on it years ago.

i don't carry a card but its on my driving license that i want my organs donated.

I don't agree about opting out.............how about a register of those willing to donate organs and then only those people on the register being entitled to have a transplant

Colin, that is fine and your decision SHOULD be respected. This is why I believe a compulsory register which you can opt OUT of is the answer. If your name aint on it, you don't donate organs, and relatives should not be asked.

I agree with the change. I registered as a donor years ago. Mum always said she wouldn't let them have anything if anything happened to me, although it was my wish that they took whatever they could use. To me if I can save lives after my death, or give people sight, then why not? AL

I do not carry a donor card and have no wish to sign up.....I do hope that those in charge respect my decision also , and do not try to persuade my relatives that my organs should be donated.......................

That is the prupose of this new law Alyson. Although we haven't gone as far as a compulsory donor register that can be opted out, it does mean that relatives no longer have to make that decision if the deceased wanted to be an organ donor. OC, there is a register, but at the moment we opt IN.

Hi Teresa. Personally i think that it should be compulsory that organs are used after death unless the person goes on a register to opt out. That way the family are not even more upset by being asked and having to make that decision. My Dad has been in hospital for the past 7 months and i have seen a lot of death during that time and also seen families agonising over the decision on what to do. Alyson

I cannot be an organ donor because I have a medical condition (no, NOT AIDS!). Recently a friend told me about Ethical Organ Donation. They can use my organs for drug research etc, thus saving testing on animals. I am just about to sign up for this. My children know, and they all carry Donor Cards themselves. Incidentally- where IS your Donor Card? You should have one discreetly on display in your Car and another in your purse - somewhere it can easily be found. I have seen a perspex keyring that will take a Donor Card - an idea perhaps for the car keys?? Incidentally - I thought there already WAS an opt-out, National Register??? You use the same register to opt out as you do to opt in, I understood? OC

I agree with the 'opt-out system' - it would save such heartache for families and the decision will be made by the individual concerned! xx