Im doing a school presentation on the importance of organ donation. What are some ppls views on this? Does anyone know a donator, recipitent or is either?
how are they?
My father died in October. His eyes, some skin, and some marrow were harvested. Sadly, his organs could not be used because of time delay. However, it was a small comfort to know that his last act will benefit others.
I’m registered as a donor. My view is that I can’t take it with me, and if various bits of me can help people live longer they’re welcome to it.
Just…after I’ve finished with them, OK?
I’m registered as a donor, too, although there are probably parts of me that won’t be of any use to anyone (crummy lungs, leaky heart valve). I hope I can be of use to someone when I die. I also hope that my mom respects my wish to be an organ donor, as apparently even if I want to be one, I’m told no hospital will risk harvesting organs if the next-of-kin is against it, regardless of what the deceased indicated her wishes were.
I want to be a donor, so I have made damn sure that my family knows what my wishes are.
It also helps to have a living will explicitly stating what you want, such as organ donation, DNR orders, etc.
My personal concern is that so many people with kidney failure die every year waiting for organs, and yet some do-gooders will go out of their way to wrongly declare any unclaimed body as one of their religion to keep the body whole for burial.
I’m an organ donor as well. My parents know and respect my wishes.
I just can’t see the point of keeping stuff that’s only going to decay if it isn’t used to help others.
I am a member of a brain donor program of an association for research into a disease. I hope that my brain could be of use to someday find a cure.
I am also a blood donor, although I suppose that does not count.
I once asked a friend why she wasn’t a donor. She said she was afraid that the doctors would be willing to let her die if she were in an accident, in order to get at her organs. I’m not really sure if that is truly a legitimate concern, or if she’s merely afraid of confronting her mortality.
I just asked a friend of mine, who says his wife won’t let him. She says she doesn’t want his eyes in another person. It seems to me that the public would benefit from some sort of education, such as television programs, pamphlets, etc. We’re constantly bombarded with information about AIDS and the dangers of drug use, why not start running donation commercials?
Cecil on this topic.
I am an organ donor, and my family knows this, and why. When I lost my older son, I donated his organs, as well. It is pretty oogy to discuss plans with the organ-bank representative, but death is a part of life, and if my organs can benefit someone else, then I’m all for it.
That said, you can restrict which organs can be donated. My mother has restrictions on her eyes and her heart for personal reasons. In any case, it’s not the whole eye that is transplanted, but the corneas. In the jar, they look like contact lenses.
Robin
I’m an organ donor too. When I’m gone, I sure as hell ain’t gonna be using anything, so why not give it to someone who needs it?
My family knows and respects my wishes. Both of my parents are listed as donors too.
It sure does!!!
8 gallons and counting
My mom died 4 years ago. She donated whatever could be harvested and then donated her body to a medical school. The students used it to learn how to be doctors. We got her ashes back about 6 months after her death and buried her about 3 months later. The final act of kindness. That’s my mom!
I’m a donor, as are my sisters. I don’t know about my brother. One of my cousins was the recipiant of a liver. Unfortunately, he ended up rejecting the liver and died while waiting for another. In a way, it’s too bad that they give organs to the sickest people, because the outcome might be much more psoitive if they could do the transplants on those who are healthy enough to fight off post-operative complications. I guess they figure if you have 2 people, one who might die in a month without an organ, and one who would die in two years without an orgen, and you only have one organ to give, best to save the most desperate case.
Madhat - Cite, please?
StG
I am a donor also. My personal belief is that I cannot expect something that I would not be willing to give. If I ever needed an organ I would hope some other kind person was a donor. Too many people die each year from lack of organs, if my death could help save or improve someone else’s life, that’s fine by me.
Go ahead, take my specialized meat when I’m dead.
MrsB goes one better (as she often does ). She’s donating her entire body to science. Or maybe I should write Science!
She’s quite dedicated to research, BTW.
I’m another donor. I’ll be through with the stuff, and, while it’s not exactly low mileage anymore, if there’s anyone who can benefit by this, so much for the better. Fortunately, not only does my family know about this, they agree!
I’ve heard that some people are against organ donation because they believe in the literal resurrection of the body. I’m afraid I can’t offer a cite for this, though.
CJ
Jeez MsRobyn, I am so sorry to hear that you lost a child.
WARNING- this may sound insensitive, but it’s not meant that way!
Had you considered organ donation in the event of a disaster? Or was it something that was brought up to you at the worst possible time? In nursing school, my best friend would see people approached after tragic accidents, suicides, etc. Many people who might have said “yes” to donation of a loved one’s organs ordinarily chose to say “no” because of the timing. It can be such a terrible time that people can’t imagine someone “doing that” to their child or sibling or parent.
I have thought about terrible eventualities with my kids (as a mom, I can’t help it, as awful as it sounds) and I would donate organs from my kids in a NY minute.
Robyn, you are quite a woman. Truly.
Here’s a question- does the military harvest organs for donation or research? Because if they don’t, wouldn’t it take too long to get the body to a hospital (even if the soldier wasn’t in the field)?
Stentor, I suspect that is a common misconception about organ donation (I’ve heard it around here, too). I’m on record as an organ donor, but not a med school donor, cause I don’t like the idea of my body being disrespected in a medical school. Just take the good parts, and cremate the rest, is my idea.
EchoKitty, thanks for telling us about your mother. I am signed up as an organ donor and want any part to be used that can be. But I had wondered if any ashes were returned.
I figure that if the Lord can reassemble those who have long been dead, then she can damn well reassemble ashes. (I think that may be a Catholic belief, but I’m not certain. )
One of my friends from childhood and high school died while waiting for a liver transplant. I think it was then that I signed up.