# Organ donation is switching to opt-out in the UK **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 11, 2019, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/organ-donation-is-switching-to-opt-out-in-the-uk/840063 "2019-09-11T19:34:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/organ-donation-is-switching-to-opt-out-in-the-uk/840063/21 "2019-09-12T21:32:38Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Just want to make sure; are you against the Draft also? I consider it obsolete. > [@rsat3acr](#): > > FWIIW one can only be vivisected if one is alive, if one is dead they are dissected. And if one is dead, then their organs are no good anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/organ-donation-is-switching-to-opt-out-in-the-uk/840063/22 "2019-09-12T23:34:02Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > Yes, once you actively designate trash for disposal - and indeed pay someone to haul it off - it’s not yours. > > No. But in a great many human societies over the past hundred thousand year or so, it gets dealt with by those close to you: family & relatives. > > Where do you discern this legal principle? Wait, you think the state doesn’t have any say in the disposition of human remains? You can grind it up and make sausage out of it? You can throw it into a hole in the back yard without paperwork or documentation? You can feed it to your pets or turn the skull into an ashtray? You can shellac it and use it for a lawn ornament? There are hundreds, possibly thousands of laws concerning what can and can not be done with a human body. Do you have a cite that these laws have been overturned because for the past hundred thousand years it gets dealt with by family and relatives? Because if you think your next of kin own your body after your death, you’re wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Kimera757](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kimera757/32/3765_2.png) [@Kimera757](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimera757)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/organ-donation-is-switching-to-opt-out-in-the-uk/840063/23 "2019-09-12T23:39:37Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Good on you guys across the pond! I’ll be raising my glass to you later tonight. I’m in total agreement with this. I wish they would bring this to Canada. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2019, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/organ-donation-is-switching-to-opt-out-in-the-uk/840063/24 "2019-09-13T00:12:17Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > And if one is dead, then their organs are no good anymore. :dubious: If that’s the case, then how the hell are doctors managing it, seeing as how most organs come from dead people? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2019, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/organ-donation-is-switching-to-opt-out-in-the-uk/840063/25 "2019-09-13T00:34:03Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > … > And if one is dead, then their organs are no good anymore. You might want to look into the subject of organ donation before you further embarrass yourself. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2019, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/organ-donation-is-switching-to-opt-out-in-the-uk/840063/26 "2019-09-13T01:58:07Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Disappointing. It should never be assumed by default that one’s life and one’s body are the property of the state. This is a rather odd position for you to take, given your rather Stalinist politics. You spend half your time on these boards arguing that the state and its agents should be deferred to on almost every possible occasion. Why do you object to our dead bodies being state property, when you seem to believe that we’re pretty much state property for most of our lives? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2019, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/organ-donation-is-switching-to-opt-out-in-the-uk/840063/27 "2019-09-13T02:00:56Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > This is a rather odd position for you to take, given your rather Stalinist politics. You spend half your time on these boards arguing that the state and its agents should be deferred to on almost every possible occasion. Why do you object to our dead bodies being state property, when you seem to believe that we’re pretty much state property for most of our lives? Because I don’t like the idea of the state killing me in order to provide parts for someone more “important”. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2019, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/organ-donation-is-switching-to-opt-out-in-the-uk/840063/28 "2019-09-13T02:03:20Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Because I don’t like the idea of the state killing me in order to provide parts for someone more “important”. Pretty sure that’s still illegal. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2019, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/organ-donation-is-switching-to-opt-out-in-the-uk/840063/29 "2019-09-13T02:06:39Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > :dubious: If that’s the case, then how the hell are doctors managing it, seeing as how most organs come from dead people? If the heart is beating and the lungs are drawing breath, then the person is not “dead”. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2019, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/organ-donation-is-switching-to-opt-out-in-the-uk/840063/30 "2019-09-13T02:09:12Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Because I don’t like the idea of the state killing me in order to provide parts for someone more “important”. My mistake. Your problem is not political inconsistency; it’s medical and scientific ignorance. No problem. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2019, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/organ-donation-is-switching-to-opt-out-in-the-uk/840063/31 "2019-09-13T09:15:07Z")
Yay. Wish they’d bring in opt out in Aus. ---
**Author:** ![JoseB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/joseb/32/1530_2.png) [@JoseB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoseB)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2019, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/organ-donation-is-switching-to-opt-out-in-the-uk/840063/32 "2019-09-13T09:47:12Z")
About time. Spain (my country of birth) has been “opt-out” for quite a while, and recently the Netherlands (the country where I live) has become “opt-out” as well. A good development, in my opinion. ---
**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:** [September 13, 2019, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/organ-donation-is-switching-to-opt-out-in-the-uk/840063/33 "2019-09-13T12:10:32Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Disappointing. It should never be assumed by default that one’s life and one’s body are the property of the state. It’s only assumed for people who can’t be bothered to opt one way or the other. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2019, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/organ-donation-is-switching-to-opt-out-in-the-uk/840063/34 "2019-09-13T12:15:37Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Nobody is assuming that. Yes, they are. Also, what happens if you are not renewing next year. Does your current license choice of “no” remain in place, or is it automatically switched to “yes”? In other words, are you grandfathered in the old system or not? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2019, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/organ-donation-is-switching-to-opt-out-in-the-uk/840063/35 "2019-09-13T12:33:47Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > Notwithstanding recycling, waste in general has negative value. Bullshit. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2019, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/organ-donation-is-switching-to-opt-out-in-the-uk/840063/36 "2019-09-13T12:33:47Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > It’s only assumed for people who can’t be bothered to opt one way or the other. In which case, the default assumption should be “no”, because one’s body is the only property one can truly and inalienably own, and it should require more of an act of omission before you chop it up and sell it for profit. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2019, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/organ-donation-is-switching-to-opt-out-in-the-uk/840063/37 "2019-09-13T12:37:22Z")
#DeadLivesMatter Right, **Smapti**? ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2019, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/organ-donation-is-switching-to-opt-out-in-the-uk/840063/38 "2019-09-13T12:40:27Z")
I’ve thought for years that it should be opt-out rather than opt-in. Out of interest, can people who are opted-out still _receive_ an organ transplant? ---
**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:** [September 13, 2019, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/organ-donation-is-switching-to-opt-out-in-the-uk/840063/39 "2019-09-13T12:42:18Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > In which case, the default assumption should be “no”, because one’s body is the only property one can truly and inalienably own, and it should require more of an act of omission before you chop it up and sell it for profit. If you don’t care, the default is whatever I want it to be, because I do care. What really should require more than an act of omission is allowing someone to die of liver failure when a transplant would be an effective treatment. But feel free to explain to us all why the property rights of corpses is more important than life saving organ transplants. ---
**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:** [September 13, 2019, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/organ-donation-is-switching-to-opt-out-in-the-uk/840063/40 "2019-09-13T12:46:01Z")
> [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](#): > > Out of interest, can people who are opted-out still _receive_ an organ transplant? I like the way you think. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/organ-donation-is-switching-to-opt-out-in-the-uk/840063.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/organ-donation-is-switching-to-opt-out-in-the-uk/840063.md?page=3)