Would you be an organ donor?

So, imagine some absolute disaster happens and you’re gone, right? But somehow, most of your organs stay perfectly intact. Your family gets called in, and they have to decide if they want to donate parts of you that could save someone else's life. Just think about it—you don't need those organs anymore, and there's something kind of wild about the fact that even after you're dead, your heart can just keep on beating. Isn't that crazy?

Charles Scott84 said:Look, let’s say some tragedy occurs and you pass away, leaving behind certain organs—most of them, actually—that are perfectly intact. Your family will be asked if they want to donate those parts to save someone else's life. You have to realize that you personally won't need those organs anymore, and there is something genuinely beautiful about the idea that even after you're gone, your heart keeps beating. Isn't that right?

No.
And I suppose I could actually provide a logical argument for why those organs aren't "needed" by me anymore.

velvetpilot212 said:Nah.
And hey, you could probably back up that whole "we don't need those organs" claim if you really wanted to.

How am I supposed to explain it to you? Look, when someone passes away, they don't need their organs anymore. It’s not rocket science; it's common sense. Period. I'm Catholic, so I believe in heaven, hell, and purgatory. The Bible says that souls head to a specific place based on how they lived their lives here on Earth. A soul doesn't need physical organs!

Fine. Regardless, I have absolutely no intention of donating my organs. 👋

I’m telling you, with the sheer number of people on waiting lists and the massive demand for organs right now, we need a law of taking. It should be mandatory for every citizen who is capable at the time of death—meaning their organs are actually healthy—to donate. We hit the point where the wait times and the shortage of available organs became too extreme to let individuals just choose. Every corpse should be autopsied for parts. This whole "opt-in or opt-out" nonsense has to go. Once you're dead, you don't need your body anymore, but there are people out there who actually need those parts to stay alive. 🙂

If I were to pass away, I suppose I’d leave everything behind, but while I'm still here, there is absolutely no way; after all, isn't my health already such a mess? Still, if one of my healthy organs could somehow serve someone else, wouldn't it be worth letting them carry it away? 😳

Once I'm dead, I won't care. Let them carry whatever they can grab—just as long as they check ten times to make sure I'm actually gone.

bi.

I’m an organ donor, so if anything useful comes up, feel free to take it. 😬

Well, honestly? Why wouldn't I? If it means I might actually save someone's life, then it's worth it.

David Harris44 said:I’ve already signed up to be an organ donor, so if anything happens, they can just go ahead and take what's needed.😬

I honestly don't see the point of having that donor card if the family still has to step in and give permission anyway. I was actually thinking about signing up myself, but now I'm not so sure...

Brian Vaughn5 said:I honestly don't see the actual point of carrying an organ donor card if family members still have to be asked for permission anyway.

In practice, doctors usually consult the next of kin. However, according to the law of taking, they are permitted to proceed without asking, regardless of whether you possess a donor card or not.
Unless you have explicitly stated in writing during your lifetime that you refuse to donate, the option remains open.

David Harris44 said:Standard procedure is that doctors ask first. But if you look at the law, they actually have the authority to proceed without asking, even if you aren't carrying an organ donor card.
Basically, unless you’ve left a written statement while you were alive saying you don't want to be a donor, they can go ahead.

Is this actually a new thing? I don't know, when I was looking into those donor registration cards a couple of years back, it clearly stated that the family *always* had to be consulted. If what you're saying is true, then I guess those registry cards are pretty much pointless. 🤔

Brian Vaughn5 said:Is this some kind of new development?

"Body parts from a deceased individual may be harvested for transplantation provided the deceased did not explicitly object in writing during their lifetime."

(Law of taking and transplantation of human body parts for medical purposes, The New York Times, Issue 31/80, 50/88)

Source. 😁

David Harris44 said:"Body parts from a deceased person can be taken for transplantation if the individual did not explicitly object to it in writing during their lifetime."

(The law of taking and transplanting human body parts for medical purposes, *The New York Times* issue 31/80, 50/88)

Source. 😁

Alright, thanks. 😁

I just finished looking this up on the American network pages. So, what am I supposed to take from this idea that a donor card counts as our way of saying we don't object? And what about people who don't even have those cards? I mean, do they really expect families to be contacted right after someone passes away? Organs start failing almost immediately, don't they?

Okay, I think I get it now. David Harris44, you don't even need to respond. 😁

Here is what it says:

UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS CAN ORGANS AND TISSUES BE USED AFTER DEATH?

For organs to be donated, death has to occur in a hospital setting, because that’s the only place where organs can be kept in a suitable condition for transplantation. Most patients who could potentially provide organs for transplant are found exclusively in hospital intensive care units.

WHAT MUST BE DONE TO BECOME A DONOR?

When someone decides during their lifetime to donate their organs and tissues after death with the intent to save others, the most important thing is to communicate that decision to their family and closest friends. This is because they will be the first people doctors turn to when asking for permission to take organs after a person passes away. Families are expected to respect the wishes of the deceased. You can also fill out a donor card and carry it with you as proof of your decision.

HOW WILL THE WISHES OF ORGAN AND TISSUE DONORS BE RESPECTED IF DEATH OCCURS IN A HOSPITAL?

Once everything possible has been done to save the patient's life, and once doctors—who aren't involved in the actual transplant process—confirm the death and sign off on it according to medical and legal criteria.

Once death has been defined in this way, a team of transplant physicians will determine which organs or tissues can be used to treat or save other lives. If harvesting an organ is possible, the designated officials will verify the wishes expressed by the deceased during their lifetime, but above all, they will discuss it with the immediate family. That is how the deceased person's wishes will be honored.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/intro

Canada🙂

I was actually thinking about signing up... but honestly, I’m kind of freaking out. This place feels like such a lawless banana republic sometimes. You know how it goes—someone gets their hands on your SSN and suddenly you just vanish off the face of the earth, and some shady guy in Germany ends up walking around with your kidney.😎

I don't know... I'm feeling a little sketched out by all this.😁 Look, I get it, everything is top secret and under lock and key... I totally respect that. But honestly? It’s getting pretty damn hard to "steal" data these days.🙄

Just shaving a little.😉 😁

Chloe Nguyen3 said:Canada🙂

I was actually thinking about signing up... but I'm honestly a little sketched out. I mean, it's still kind of a "banana republic" over there... someone gets a hold of your Social Security number and you just vanish, and some wealthy guy from Germany ends up getting your kidney.😎

I don't know... I'm just a bit paranoid about this whole thing.😁 I get that everything is supposed to be top secret, and I totally respect that... but it feels like it's so easy to steal data these days.🙄

I'm probably just tripping.😉 😁

That used to worry me too... but they actually explain everything right here: 😁

Of course they would—in my estimation, those individuals who refuse to provide even the most basic level of honesty when it is actually required 🙂—would be weeping like toddlers if the situation were reversed, yet the moment someone else needs support, they suddenly become completely indifferent. 👎 🙂