# Gentlemen: You die and are an organ donor. What if **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 2, 2022, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-you-die-and-are-an-organ-donor-what-if/958821 "2022-02-02T23:05:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-you-die-and-are-an-organ-donor-what-if/958821/21 "2022-02-03T04:12:49Z")
You keep specifically mentioning trans men. I don’t think there would be a huge difference there in those who would be willing to donate any other organ. You don’t really have a say on who gets your organs after you die. I mean, I guess I could foresee Fox News or similar making a big deal out of it to drum up some outrage, but I’d suspect that those who would care about that were unlikely to donate their organs anyways. That would be “soy boy” talk. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-you-die-and-are-an-organ-donor-what-if/958821/22 "2022-02-03T04:14:25Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > > [@BigT](#): > > > > The only thing I could see anyone objecting to is the part about a vasectomy, based on the idea the penis should go to someone who would use it to procreate. They’d argue it was wasted otherwise. > > Medically I can’t imagine fertility happening. Surely there’d by autoantibodies produced against the foreign spermatozoa. I agree, but I was taking the OP’s hypothetical at face value. If you’re going to need to get your tubes tied, then it sounds like fertility might be a possibility. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-you-die-and-are-an-organ-donor-what-if/958821/23 "2022-02-03T07:15:03Z")
I’m an organ donor and I find the idea that my organs could go to someone with shitty opinions and horrible behavior slightly upsetting if I start thinking about it. But 99% of that is just that I’m not good at conceptualizing being dead. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-you-die-and-are-an-organ-donor-what-if/958821/24 "2022-02-03T07:36:46Z")
Sure, that sounds awesome. I’m imagining the doctors taking some sort of blood or tissue test and coming back from the lab and saying “oh thank god! the dick is a match! get that dick on a helicopter right away!” and they fly my dick to the transplant hospital with a police escort in one of those styrofoam organ boxes. Transport courier urgently runs through the hospital yelling “I’ve got the dick here!” and nurses flagging him down. My dick would retain some of its great importance even after my death. What’s not to like? ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-you-die-and-are-an-organ-donor-what-if/958821/25 "2022-02-03T07:50:20Z")
> [@Malienation](#): > > In an experimental operation, a transgender guy gets your penis and testicles with the proviso that the testicles be vasectomized so that he can’t father a kid (who would have your DNA). Feelings? If he was a cis guy would you feel the same? I guess I’m not qualified to answer you, as you seem to only be directing your question to people born with a penis and testicles. But surely the question applies to people born with ovaries and a uterus if you also say: _Ladies: In an experimental operation, a transgender gal gets your ovaries and uterus with the proviso that the ovaries be “cauterized” so that she can’t give birth a kid (who would have your DNA). Feelings? If she was a cis gal would you feel the same?_ Now that the question has been made a little more inclusive, here is my (bio female) answer: if pieces of my dead carcass can help someone, yay! As a living person I really don’t care if they are cis or trans or whatever, although given current societal prejudices I might prefer to donate to a transperson because their options are more likely to be limited by bigotry, and I’d prefer to fight against that. But I’ll be dead when this hypothetical occurs, so I’m sure I won’t care at all. While I’m still alive, I’ll say that there is no need to cauterize the ovaries on _my_ account. If someone wants to bear children with some of my genetic material, that’s up to them. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-you-die-and-are-an-organ-donor-what-if/958821/26 "2022-02-03T08:06:29Z")
I don’t see the point of worrying about what happens after one’s death. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-you-die-and-are-an-organ-donor-what-if/958821/27 "2022-02-03T08:13:58Z")
The idea of having orgasms after exitus sounds good. Sinning after dying! Can’t think of a better cause. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-you-die-and-are-an-organ-donor-what-if/958821/28 "2022-02-03T08:40:13Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Transport courier urgently runs through the hospital yelling “I’ve got the dick here!” and nurses flagging him down. Transport courier trips, drops box, dick spills out, dog eats dick. (Also, for the record, not only does the OP’s stated scenario not bother me at all, nothing in the ensuing discussion has persuaded me there is a rational basis for _anyone_ to be bothered by it beyond simple bigotry.) ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-you-die-and-are-an-organ-donor-what-if/958821/29 "2022-02-03T11:49:13Z")
No issues with it and am already on the organ donor list. The more of me that can be of use postmortem, the better. I suppose if there was a real chance of half-siblings happening I might want my family to have a say as they’ll be the ones dealing with the emotional consequences but as that’s been eliminated in the OP, I’m absolutely fine with being scavenged for parts that can save or improve the lives of those who need them. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-you-die-and-are-an-organ-donor-what-if/958821/30 "2022-02-03T11:55:32Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > The idea of having orgasms after exitus sounds good. La petite mort . . . la grande mort. . . la petite mort. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-you-die-and-are-an-organ-donor-what-if/958821/31 "2022-02-03T12:07:34Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > The only thing I could see anyone objecting to is the part about a vasectomy, based on the idea the penis should go to someone who would use it to procreate. My objection to that part is that once I die, I don’t want to control anyone else’s reproductive decisions. Let 'em get a vasectomy if they want it, or not if they don’t, what do I care? ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-you-die-and-are-an-organ-donor-what-if/958821/32 "2022-02-03T12:16:34Z")
No objection, although I would hope that the recipient would take the entire package. I wouldn’t want them to go off half-cocked. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-you-die-and-are-an-organ-donor-what-if/958821/33 "2022-02-03T12:34:16Z")
> [@Malienation](#): > > My guess? In 10-20 years a transmen will get the Full Monty. > > On a related note, they’ve transplanted uteruses into cisgender women as well. There’s a big advantage to that compared to a transman getting male genitals. The women get the uterus, use donated eggs to get pregnant, and deliver via C-section at which time the uterus is removed. Since it’s removed, lifetime immunosuppressants are not needed. This could be done for transwomen, too. And if all this becomes medically possible, why are the transfolk wasting all this time trying to get junk off possibly sqeamish dead folk? Why not have a trans-junk swap? “I’d trade my dick for your uterus, deal?” We could set up a database, with each person’s genetic data, to find matches, like they do with kidneys and such. The only difference is there’d be two-way transplants, instead of just one-way. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-you-die-and-are-an-organ-donor-what-if/958821/34 "2022-02-03T13:13:48Z")
So, what your saying is that I can piss off Conservative jerks from beyond the grave? And all I have to do is check off the “give my wiener to a transman” box on my license? I’m in. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-you-die-and-are-an-organ-donor-what-if/958821/35 "2022-02-03T13:18:09Z")
> [@Malienation](#): > > This isn’t just hypothetical. They’ve already transplanted penises onto cisgender men Cite? I’m not doubting you, (and it doesn’t even need to be true for the thread) but I’m really curious because this sounds like a very hard transplant. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-you-die-and-are-an-organ-donor-what-if/958821/36 "2022-02-03T13:22:44Z")
> [@Malienation](#): > > My guess? In 10-20 years a transmen will get the Full Monty. > > On a related note, they’ve transplanted uteruses into cisgender women as well. There’s a big advantage to that compared to a transman getting male genitals. The women get the uterus, use donated eggs to get pregnant, and deliver via C-section at which time the uterus is removed. Since it’s removed, lifetime immunosuppressants are not needed. This could be done for transwomen, too. I think this is all really neat, though. But you’ve mentioned why it sounds implausible as even an uncommon choice. A lifetime of immunosuppressants is a really big deal. Surgeons can already craft a somewhat functional penis out of the person’s own tissue, and i bet that will get a lot better in 20 years. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-you-die-and-are-an-organ-donor-what-if/958821/37 "2022-02-03T14:42:32Z")
As long as there isn’t an alien civil rights leader with a heroin addiction who needs my genitals to replace his failing heart, I don’t care where they go. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-you-die-and-are-an-organ-donor-what-if/958821/38 "2022-02-03T15:23:37Z")
The physical trauma a transman might go through to get a functioning penis is astounding. A transplant might be less trauma? > **[My Penis, a Love Story](https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/gabriel-mac-essay.html)** > > I didn’t need a penis to be a man. But I needed one to be me. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-you-die-and-are-an-organ-donor-what-if/958821/39 "2022-02-03T15:32:35Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Cite? I’m not doubting you, (and it doesn’t even need to be true for the thread) but I’m really curious because this sounds like a very hard transplant. Cutting edge. > **[First-Ever Penis and Scrotum Transplant Makes History at Johns Hopkins](https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/articles/2018/04/first-ever-penis-and-scrotum-transplant-makes-history-at-johns-hopkins)** > > Surgeons at The Johns Hopkins Hospital have performed the world’s first total penis and scrotum transplant. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-you-die-and-are-an-organ-donor-what-if/958821/40 "2022-02-03T15:34:38Z")
> [@Malienation](#): > > In an experimental operation, a transgender guy gets your penis and testicles with the proviso that the testicles be vasectomized so that he can’t father a kid (who would have your DNA). Feelings? If he was a cis guy would you feel the same? As with other responses, I’d be dead and therefore wouldn’t have any feelings. If I had compunctions while living about how they might use my body after death, I wouldn’t be an organ donor in the first place. ETA: And in fact I am not currently an organ donor, not because of some puritan fear of my sex organs being used by trans men, but because I don’t want my skin and bones used for cosmetic surgery (often at for-profit establishments). 😱 ~Max [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-you-die-and-are-an-organ-donor-what-if/958821.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gentlemen-you-die-and-are-an-organ-donor-what-if/958821.md?page=3)