Organ Donation

[mikey4444]

There is good news this morning about the rise in organ donation after someone has died.

But it would seem that we still have a long way to go. There are 1000's of people on the waiting list for organ transplants, most of them kidneys. Apparently every body that allows organ donation, saves 4 lives.

Why wouldn't anybody want to save lives by donating their organs ?

[jake-the-peg]

I'd actually love to hear from our resident JWs about this subject and where they derive their abhorance of it from.


Guys?

[Baldric]

There may now be a slight delay whilst the correct article to Cut and Paste is located.

[mrs_overall]

jake - I wonder how may JW's would put aside their religious beliefs if they or their child needed a transplant?

[naomi24]

Exactly, Mrs O. I was being sarcastic. It all seems so two-faced to me. People will take organs but won't give them; religion deems a body must be buried quickly, hence no time to harvest organis, etc, etc....

[mikey4444]

Thanks naomi for your link concerning Asian people and organ donation. I had been trying to find accurate info on the 'net this morning but failed.

The only possible reason I can see for Asian people not to participate in the donation program is religious. So, yet another area where blindly following a religion is holding people back in the modern world. Only this time it appears to be killing them.

Why can't people make up their own minds without having it made up for them by priests ?

[mrs_overall]

mikey, I have to disagree with you. Their reluctance is NOT religious, but is usually down to ignorance in wrongly thinking their religion forbids it, or to their cultural beliefs

[mikey4444]

ummmmm no I agree, it can't be very nice for Doctors to ask the relatives but I would imagine it isn't very nice waiting for years for a kidney transplant either, especially if you have to go through dialysis 3 times a week.

It just makes common sense to me to donate organs. I have told my relatives that I want to help out others after my death. I just hope they agree when the time comes.

[naomi24]

This link gives a list of views of various religions. I think a lot of reluctance stems from superstition and out-dated philosophy.

http://www.organtransplants.org/understanding/religion/

[sara3]

I think the doctors sometimes ask before the patient dies.. when it is inevitable.

also, tissue typing means that some races/nationalities need organs from their own..

[jake-the-peg]

I don't think Mrs O that probably arises

After all you need to go on a list - probably easier to turn that down as there's no real guarantee of availability

It's not as if someone comes along and says 'You need a transplant - there's one on the shelf right here - it can cure you today just say the word'

[ummmm]

I'm almost certain that if I'd died prematurely my dad would have refused to donate my organs. If we are all born knowing this will happen then within a few generations it would be the norm.

Then the opt outs don't get to opt in.

[mrs_overall]

Another problem that I think needs to be addressed is that often the wishes of the deceased are not carried out.
If a person has registered as an organ donor and then dies, their next of kin can (and often does) refuse to let the organs be harvested

[ummmm]

Absolutely agree with that.