“Don’t save them! It’s too weird!”
I know I’m not usually one for serious posts, but a recent thread over at Snark got me going about organ donation. I was suprised to see how many people are not organ donors because it weirds them out.
A lot of people, my friends and mum included, argue that if it’s your body it’s your choice not to donate; but in all honesty, I think it’s completely selfish not to. If you’re dead, what good are your organs going to do you? And I’m pretty sure that if you’re dead and someone takes out your liver, you won’t be ‘grossed out’. If you’re body parts are no longer required, doesn’t it make sense to help save the life of someone else?
And then you’ve got your people who are only half-selfish and say “I’ll donate, this, and that.. but not my skin and my eyes - that’s just fucked!”. Our bodies are just going to rot away in the ground or be cremated anyway, I don’t see how saving or improving someone’s life is worse than that.
Who donates? And what’s your opinion on it all? I know there will be arguments if I die before my parents. My mum doesn’t like the idea, but my dad knows I feel strongly about it. I wish my signature was the final decision, but unfortunately your next of kin make that choice in the end (in Australia anyway).
13 Comments, Comment or Ping
Nellie
I’m not an organ or blood donor because my doctor advised against it, but I’ve told my parents to allow my body to be used for a cadaver so they can research all the things that ail me and find cures.
Especially for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Jan 23rd, 2008
Juice
I would say it depends on my family. I’d let them make the decision for me when I die (God forbid).
But if it was within my choice, I would definitely do it, just the parts which are fully functional of course (definitely not my lungs nobody wants a smoker’s lung hahaha).
Jan 23rd, 2008
Arwen
The thing that weirds me out about it is all the stories you hear of people being “killed off” just so they can harvest their organs. Or if someone is dying, they will just pull the plug or over medicate them instead of trying to help them live, because they need the organs.
Jan 24th, 2008
Aisling
I’m all for donating my organs. What weirds me out is the idea of *receiving.* I wouldn’t want someone else’s organs. It’s a weird mind frame, I’m sure, and according to my mom I don’t have a choice, because she would demand an organ transplant against my will. :S
Jan 24th, 2008
Jamie
I absolutely agree with you, which we already know from the thread at Snark! I think not donating because it’s weird is absolutely selfish, just like not donating because you want to keep your organs with you when you die. Seriously, you are dead. Do some good when you die and save some lives!
@Arwen - most of those stories are fabricated. Cases such as those are EXTREMELY (and I do mean extremely) rare. Don’t listen to myths. Do research on your own!
Jan 24th, 2008
Xuan
I’m with Aisling - I’m all for it; I’d rather be buried with my fully capable organs all missing and save a handful or so of lives than be so with everything still inside. It just makes sense, to me, although others undoubtedly say different.
My friend and I were talking about this a few weeks ago - and she was going on about how God (she’s not a fundamentalist, but she’s fairly religious) assigns you your own body, and everything in it is intended only for you - that they wouldn’t match anybody else’s. I smacked her a good one upside the head and quashed her reasoning with the moral, decent “it’s selfish to think so when you could save lives - isn’t that more beneficial?” argument.
Jan 24th, 2008
Arwen
@ Jamie
They may be rare but it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t happen. There was a story not too long ago about a mentally retarded person who signed up to be an organ donor, and the doctor deliberatley overmedicated him to kill him and harvest his organs.
I’m freakishly paranoid anyway, so I would always be worrying that someone lusting after my organs would try and speed up my death. I don’t need that added stress. I only recently stepped up to the plate as a blood donor, and for now, that’s my contribution to society. And yes, I’m selfish.
Jan 24th, 2008
Paddy
In the end though, Arwen, it’s up to your next of kin to decide whether or not they take the organs out of you. So even though I’m listed as an organ donor, if I was to die (or become brain dead, or whatever); my parents could refuse to have my organs transplanted. So if you have a trustworthy next of kin, there’s no need to be paranoid!
…then again, it may be different outside Australia??
Jan 24th, 2008
Paddy
Yeah, you see that, Aisling, I can understand. But that would only be your life that is affected. Those who refuse to donate could potentially be saving someone else’s life, but they choose not to.
I think if my life depended on it, I could probably bare having someone else’s organs inside me; but like you side, it’s weird to think about!
Jan 24th, 2008
Amanda
I’m listed to donate everything - I plan on being cremated anyway, so what’s the use of perfectly good body parts going up in smoke?
Jan 24th, 2008
Chien Yee
I’m not sure what I’d do, and yet I am for and against the idea. It depends on what the future lies for me. But then I think donating them is a good idea, and yet I won’t want someone to get my parts too.
Jan 24th, 2008
Jamie
You shouldn’t make a decision just because that “could” happen. As I said, it RARELY happens. I’m not saying you have to donate blood but not donating because of a myth is just ridiculous to me. People need to research on their own and then make a decision.
Congrats on donating blood.
Jan 26th, 2008
Amber
Neck done anybody can have anything they want — but I don’t want to be involved in a face transplant. I think that’s too personal then — but my organs can all be taken. What I don’t like is other people making judgements based upon whether you do or don’t donate your organs. (For the record I’ve explicitly told my parents if I die young, before I decide to make that extra leap and become registered, that I want my organs to be donated.)
Feb 2nd, 2008
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