This is something I feel very ambivalent about.

whilst I agree we need more donors and it is hard to ask grieving relatives about donation

on the negative side there are the organ body parts scandals which would really have the official go ahead.

What do you lot think?


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6902519.stm

one of my sil's passed away very suddenly 2 yrs ago due to brain trauma. the donor team were alerted prior to her being removed from the life support machine and asked her husband and immediate family about the chances of them agreeing to donate some of her organs to which the family agreed after a lengthy discussion. consequently her organs were donated to four patients.

yes, this is a very traumatic time and by peeps carrying a donor card makes times like this much easier for the close relatives.

no one could help my sil at the end and we miss her greatly however we think of the joy she brought to four patients and their families.

so do you think the chief medical officer is right and people should not be asked to donate but have to opt out?

I'm a bit mixed on this one, whilst i can understand how traumatic it might be for a family having just recently lost a loved one, then being asked if they could use the organs...but on the flip side i think its a wonderful to think of how many people could be saved just from one organ donor, i myself am an organ donor as i think its only right to give away something i will not use, rather than just be left to fester 6 feet under. I do support the donation of organs, but i think putting every one down as an organ donor unless 'otherwise specified' is a little but harsh and forthright, as everyone has the right to do or not to do what they wish with their bodies, i just think it sounds..bossy, for lack of a better word. Blah, i dont know, i think i'l just agree and say yes.

Hi Ash
I agree with what they are trying to pass....I believe that you should have to opt out of donating your organs....I also believe that if you want to be a donor, then that should be it, so long as you are carrying something to that effect, then that was your wish......after all what use is anything to me, when I am a charred mess on the floor......good luck to anyone who can use anything of mine whether for research or in a patient.......very passionate about it! Em x

tricky one that.....probably i'd vote 'yes' however to reiterate one comment previously made....'organ donation is a generous gift, not an obligation'

I agree we should donate our organs but being british and having lived in England all my life till Jan last year would they want my organs they don't want my blood and that is what keeps me going. If they want hem why not my blood they are more than welcome to both but it just seems a bit hypocritical that they want organs but not blood. I would love to know the answer to this one as hubby has just changed his license to a NSW one and has said yes to being an organ donor

Posh

Ive got an organ donor card for the uk and i use to donate blood when i lived in the uk its a real shame i cant donate blood here the way i see it if they dont want my blood there not getting my organs im sticking with being a uk donor!!!

I'm also incredibly passionate about this and have been waxing lyrical about it for as long as I can remember.

I think the CMO is absolutely right to do what he is. I know there will be people who disagree, and for those there will be the ability to opt out.

I wonder how many people actually wouldn't mind being an organ donor but never quite get round to signing and carrying a card?

When you are faced with the trauma of losing someone the last thing you want to do is try and second guess what they would want done with their organs.

This will now be a topic of conversation which no-one really wants to think about, but should.

Mrs J.

I completely disagree with you. If someone tried to tell me that they were forceably removing my wife's body parts without my consent I would frankly be going away for a very very long time after I had finished with that doctor.

It should be for people to opt into not opt out of. Passing sweeping legislation of that sort may get a government out of actually bothering to educate the public, but the government does not own me - dead or alive.

In fact, if legislation like that was passed I would personally opt out immediately whereas at present I carry a card and can choose my body's fate and my relatives can respect MY wishes, not my governments.

I agree i think its a personal choice and should never be forced i am a organ donor and my family know this but they also know its my choice, My partner on the other hand isnt and doesnt choose to be i would never donate his organs unless i knew 100% its what he wanted!!

I've always felt it should be compulsory unless you opt out. There obviously have to be guidelines but as long as people are dying needlessly when healthy organs are being buried or cremated something is very wrong.

Opt-in, not opt-out in my view. It comes down to respect for the individual for me.

And as a previous poster said, it is madness (non-cow) that I cannot give blood in Australia but I can donate bits of my body.

As long as they make sure im dead, they can have any bits of mine that would be useful, if I can help to save someones life when ive gone that would be great. I dont think there are nearly enough organ donors in the UK. Mark is a platelet donor now and there is a severe shortage of blood/platelet donors too. Personally id say yes to it being compulsary unless you opt out.

Jx

It is something you have to go through to know how you will feel at the time. When my brother died he carried a card as did mum and dad. The nurse asked them to consent but they just felt his body had been so damaged in the accident they couldn't stand it to be attacked again. Both the nurse and I knew it was against his wishes but we couldn't stand to see my parents hurt anymore. Looking back, I think I should have said something but all rational thought is suspended at the time.