Organ donation after death: thoughts and experiences?

Casey Palmer5 said:I'm curious about where you guys actually go to sign up. Does the system really run a full tissue typing on everyone who signs up immediately? That sounds incredibly expensive and probably not worth the ROI. Also, which agency handles that here in the States?

From what I’ve heard, just carrying around a donor card doesn't mean much if you aren't officially registered in the system.

Honestly, I'm wondering what the point even is. If they decide to take your organs because your HLA type is a perfect match, the only way to actually stop them is to explicitly opt out. So, what's the deal with the donor card procedure? Are you automatically typed, and do you even get access to your own medical files?

I’ve been an organ donor for quite a while now. If you want to sign up, all you really have to do is reach out or just register through the official registry website. It’s super straightforward—no crazy background checks or complicated typing required. I always keep my donor card right in my wallet next to my driver's license, so it's always handy. Honestly, my heart, kidneys, liver, and everything else are in tip-top shape! I get regular checkups at my local community health center, as well as at various hospitals and private clinics. I doubt anyone has ever even thought about "profiling" me, because I've certainly never felt any suspicious vibes during my appointments. Under U.S. law, organs can actually be harvested without needing family consent, though doctors don't typically go that route. Personally, I don't think my insides will be doing me much good in the afterlife, and if they can save someone else, why not? Of course, I wouldn't want my liver going to some jerk who completely trashed his own life and family, but hey, that's out of my hands.
darkbison81, did this happen here in the States?

jadesailor14 said:1. I’ve been checked out regularly at my local community health center, various hospitals, and private clinics. Honestly, I don't think anyone is running some kind of profiling scheme on me, because I haven't felt any targeted vibes from the staff.

2. Legally speaking, organs can be harvested without family consent, but doctors just don't operate that way in practice.

3. Personally, I don't see much use for my guts in the afterlife, and if they can help someone else here, then fine by me.

4. Obviously, I wouldn't want my liver going to some alcoholic who trashed his own life and his family's life, but that's completely out of my hands.

5. darkbison81, did this whole situation happen here in the States?

1. Look, if anyone ever drew blood from you, they had enough material to run a typing test. They aren't going to target you until they know your HLA status. Once they have that, the scenario would be that you end up in the hospital with something like appendicitis—with a favorable HLA match—and while you're there, someone needs an organ and has a compatible HLA profile. The registry flags you as a potential donor, and if the recipient is wealthy or has the right connections and there isn't an immediate donor available, they might "find a way" to make one happen...

2. Hmm.

3. True, except organs aren't typically taken from people who are already dead; instead, a person is killed so the organs can be harvested. Usually, this involves people who were already terminal or brain dead anyway.

4. If someone is a donor, they have to be prepared for any outcome. At the end of the day, there's no foolproof way to decide who "deserves" an organ more than anyone else.

5. In Washington, D.C.

I honestly can't wrap my head around it. If people were actually being snatched up just to harvest organs for someone else, you'd think word would have leaked by now. That kind of thing is massive—it would be front-page news everywhere! The tabloids would be having a field day with those headlines.
If it happened to anyone in my family, they'd have to answer to me and the Almighty.
But sure, let's just pretend it's all been perfectly covered up so no one ever finds out.

jadesailor14 said:I honestly can't wrap my head around it. If people were actually getting snatched up just because someone needed an organ—like a kidney—it’s baffling how that hasn't leaked out yet. That kind of stuff is heavy, and if it were true, it would be front-page news everywhere. It would drive newspaper circulation through the roof.
If anyone in my family ever got caught up in something like that, they'd be answering to God.
But sure, let's go with the idea that it's all been perfectly covered up so nobody can ever find out.

It happens. Look, I'm not saying this is some daily occurrence, but a lot of stars have to align for something like that to even be possible (which I touched on in my last post). Naturally, if you aren't a specific blood type, you're at much lower risk. Besides, it isn't hard to sweep rare, "good deed" type events under the rug.

Ugh, it just hit me—my bloodwork actually exists somewhere out there... I wonder, if I had this done ages ago (like, back when I was just a kid), would there still be some record of it? I had this test for antinuclear antibodies (specifically anti-DNA) and some other weird stuff that I can't even wrap my head around, though the names of the tests 😢 don't sound very comforting... You can't just get this done anywhere; bloodwork is pretty pricey in Washington, D.C. 😢

Casey Palmer5 said:Ugh, I just remembered my blood actually exists somewhere... But what do you think—if I did this a long time ago (like, when I was just a kid), would I still be on some registry somewhere? I had testing done for antinuclear antibodies (specifically anti-DNA) and some other weird stuff that I can't even name because the terms sound so ominous 😢....you can't just get those tests anywhere, blood work is expensive in Washington, D.C. 😢

Personally, I wouldn't go into full-blown panic mode. It’s not like they're typing everyone's blood type, nor does everyone know it, nor can everyone afford to find out (it takes money and effort). As time goes on, things become easier and more accessible. Beyond that, I don't buy into any grand "conspiracy" where every single person who ever donated blood has an active file sitting there. I think there's just a specific "network" that handles that kind of thing.

So, here's the deal:
1. Maybe you aren't even registered by blood type.
2. Even if you are, you probably won't show up on some hospital database table
3. At the exact same moment as someone you're compatible with
4. Who actually desperately needs an organ
5. And happens to be wealthy enough for the "network" to pull strings for them.

🙂 See? It's not all doom and gloom. 🙂

What I was warned about was simply not to go looking for trouble...

darkbison81, man, this is getting surreal... I honestly can't believe it.
Those five points you mentioned? They're enough to make anyone freeze solid. Thank God I don't rely on the medical system, and I certainly don't have any intention of starting now.

I always make sure to carry my donor card with me wherever I go, just in case it's ever needed 🙂

Casey Palmer5 said:darkbison81, man, this is just a total gray area... I can't even believe it.
Those five points you made are enough to make anyone freeze up. Thank God I don't rely on medical services, and I certainly don't have any intention of starting.

Dammit, Casey Palmer5, that was supposed to be comforting 😁—to show you how slim the chances are that something like that actually happens to you.
Besides, not every doctor is some villain or a butcher. There are plenty of kind, smart, and responsible people out there. Heck, even a handful 🙂

I'm just looking to offload this whole thing!😁 😁

Just kidding... though if you're actually paranoid enough to think the entire hospital staff would conspire to stretch your organs out just because your donor card says YES:
just hire a lawyer to draft a binding will—one that legally mandates your next of kin to donate your organs upon your passing. It’s a foolproof way to handle it. These people won't know what hit them until you're already gone.
😉

darkbison81, why on earth are you always lugging that directive or statement around with you?
Think about it—if you're in a serious car wreck and you're unconscious, every second counts. If the doctors can't get a hold of your spouse or parents immediately, they’re legally allowed to just make the calls themselves regarding your care. What then?
I honestly don't buy into any big conspiracy theories. Personally, I’m sticking with carrying my donor card everywhere.
Besides, if my brain is already gone, well, there's not much left to worry about anyway.
And what happens if you or someone you loves suddenly deals with kidney failure or liver issues? It can happen to anyone, even people who have never touched a drop of alcohol in their lives! In that situation, would you just shrug your shoulders, say "that's life," and start planning a funeral? Or would you fight tooth and nail to get better, maybe even getting yourself on a transplant list?
There are plenty of brilliant, responsible doctors out there. Don't be such a grouch!

Look, our Luke is just being careful. And if he's studying anthropology... well, I guess he's actually using his brain for once.

I heard the exact same story about some kid being kidnapped back in Washington, D.C. a few years ago—kidnapped at around ten years old, no less. They actually managed to return him to the very same spot where he was taken, but get this: the poor kid was missing a kidney by then, so, yikes. People were talking about it constantly in all the right circles, too.
As far as doctors go, they absolutely butchered my mother over at Mayo Clinic about twenty years ago, and when she tried to ask for the actual surgical protocol, suddenly the paperwork just "mysteriously" vanished. Every single doctor in the building just started pointing fingers and blaming one another, leaving us with absolutely nothing. I’ve got plenty of other stories like that buried in my family history, but honestly, I bet we all have at least one horror story or another of our own.

Gary Sanchez said:Look, our Luke is just being careful. And if she’s studying anthropology... well, I guess she’ll figure it out eventually...

Luke is actually a molecular biologist, and I'm the one who's a future anthropologist... maybe... 😁

Casey Palmer5 said:darkbison81 is a molecular biologist, and I'm a future anthropologist... maybe. 😁

aaaa, i see! she mentioned something about that earlier,,,,
anyway, I'll be rooting for you 👍 👍 👍

I’m basically an aspiring anthropologist, 😁

As far as how much I actually know about this—don't get it twisted, I’m by no means an expert on the current state of things. But from the little bit I've gathered, I’m definitely not feeling optimistic. Back when I was still hitting the books in college, I had to interface quite a bit with doctors and the staff over at the blood typing labs (mostly because of some courses we had to take and exams we had to pass under their supervision).

jadesailor14 said:darkbison81, why on earth are you constantly lugging that will or declaration or whatever it is everywhere you go?
Think about it: if you’re in a car wreck and you're unconscious, every second counts. Doctors can't just track down your parents or your spouse to ask permission; they'll follow standard legal protocols and make the calls they're allowed to make by law. So what then?
I honestly can't believe there's some massive conspiracy going on. Personally, I'm always going to carry my donor card with me.
Besides, if my brain is irreversibly damaged, well, screw a life like that.
And what happens if you or someone you loves suddenly has kidney failure or liver issues? That happens to people who have never even touched a drop of alcohol. Will you just shrug your shoulders, say "that's life," and start planning the funeral? Or will you do everything possible to recover, including getting on a transplant list?
There are plenty of decent, responsible doctors out there. Don't be so cynical.

Cynical? 😕What does "plenty" actually mean to you? Give me a number.
I don't really have a comeback for that. If you don't like what I'm saying, just ignore me. You've got an ignore list for a reason—use it. 🙂

As for your question: no, I don't carry any kind of formal document (even though that hospital—and others besides—sent a lawyer/notary after me to get it done). I hate administrative red tape and I have zero interest in wasting my time on it...
When I die, I die. It doesn't matter to me. As long as I'm alive and healthy, I'm happy. Once that stops being the case, oh well. I don't live under the delusion that my life is some grand, noble cause.
If it comes to my own recovery, I'll do whatever I personally deem necessary and useful. When it comes to saving the people I love, I'll do whatever they allow me to do.
Thanks for being so deeply invested in my personal business. 😉

Polly, I think Luca gave us some really solid info (and a few fair warnings)...
I mean, sure, there’s probably zero chance someone’s going to target us at a hospital just for our organs, but you can never be too careful. It’s better to have the facts before making a call.

Organ donation is a noble thing, don't get me wrong, but I honestly feel like we should be putting way more resources into perfecting organ cloning instead.

Solaris said:but I honestly think we should be doubling down on perfecting organ cloning instead.

It would be incredible: imagine being born with your own personal biological bank. As soon as you hit a health snag later in life, specialists just start cultivating the exact organ you need.🙂
Still, we’re nowhere near that reality. For now, we can only manage to in vitro differentiate some basic organs—like maybe a small vessel...
We're still missing those massive, fundamental data sets regarding how tissues and organs actually undergo differentiation in the first place....