'Moral values' and organ donation

[wannabee]

Ok, I know that organ donation has been discussed here more than once, but I couldn't find anything that addressed my particular question/issue........so here goes.

In this year's presidential election, many of the exit polls showed that people voted based on their "family/moral values." It seems they (not me!) voted for Bush because they felt he stood for those values, especially in regards to gay marriage, abortion, etc. I was very distraught after the election because I hear these people talking but I don't see these people taking moral action! Organ donation is just one of the areas that angers me.

How can the majority of this country stand on such moral high-ground and then show such PATHETIC organ donation numbers? People are dying because they can't get an organ when there are plenty available, but they get buried with the patient! How can you proclaim to be such a good person with such high moral values when you aren't even willing to donate your or your family's organs in the event of their death? I really don't see that as being a whole lot less than murder.

I'm not even a nurse yet, so I'm not right in the middle of this yet, but I do dread it! Anyway, this is just something that disturbs me deeply and I wanted to get your take on it, especially those of you, if any, that are not willing to donate. I'd like an explanation!

[fergus51]

I think a fair thing would be to refuse to give organs to anyone who is unwilling to donate them. I seriously wonder how many people would refuse to accept a donation that would save them or their child, but if they would I can respect them should they refuse to donate.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Thank you all for your responses. I totally agree that it is a personal decision. I don't care whether we go the opt-out or opt-in route because either gives people the opportunity to make their wishes known. I'm not really trying to judge people for not donating, although it's really hard not to. I'm not generalizing either - I'm not saying that all who voted for Bush refuse to donate. However, if you look at the numbers, I think it's fair to make a general statement that people don't donate very often.

What I don't understand is how can you be concerned about whether gays are getting married (one example) or not when people are dying on the waiting list? Why is our country focused on such minor details when the big things are just sliding by unnoticed? I understand that the organ donation network/process is not perfect. Can you name any national organization that is? That doesn't mean that they are not worthy causes, though.

So, if you are not willing to donate, would you expect to get an organ if you or someone you loved needed it? If so, then isn't that a double standard?

I think you ARE generalizing when you say "how can you be concerned about whether gays are getting married . .. when people are dying on the waiting list". How do you know that people who are concerned about that don't donate or that people who voted for Bush don't donate . . .if we could just leave that completely out of the debate - hey that would be great. :)

As you probably have already noticed this is an issue that evokes feelings of mistrust and joy . . .people have to be educated. Not told that because they voted for Bush they must be selfish people who won't donate their organs.

Sorry, that just obviously sticks in my craw. :)

steph (Republican and Bush supporter and future organ donor)

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

I think a fair thing would be to refuse to give organs to anyone who is unwilling to donate them. I seriously wonder how many people would refuse to accept a donation that would save them or their child, but if they would I can respect them should they refuse to donate.

:)

steph

[NurseGuy_in_06]

I think a fair thing would be to refuse to give organs to anyone who is unwilling to donate them. I seriously wonder how many people would refuse to accept a donation that would save them or their child, but if they would I can respect them should they refuse to donate.

So you are saying we can buy an organ now with our guarantee to give one in the future. I read a science fiction story like this one time. The story line was that you donated your "extra" organs to powerful people that needed them now in order to be put on a waiting list to receive one later. Truth is indeed stranger than fiction.

[NurseGuy_in_06]

I think a fair thing would be to refuse to give organs to anyone who is unwilling to donate them. I seriously wonder how many people would refuse to accept a donation that would save them or their child, but if they would I can respect them should they refuse to donate.

I do not speak a foreign language. Can you translate?

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

I do not speak a foreign language. Can you translate?

I've been meaning to ask you that too Fergus .. . the translation site "Babel Fish" only gets part of the French and not enough to make any sense.

steph

[SmilingBluEyes]

I like how fergus thinks....it IS personal, but then those who refuse maybe don't need to be recipients, either. Their reasons are their own and I don't judge them, but I think fair is fair.

[rjflyn, ASN, RN]

Sadly there are not enough organs out there. There has been some debate iv'e read that ultimately money is the only thing that is going to increase donation. I have read articles that alot of transplants involve public funding ie Medicaid/Medicare. One even went so far as to say that if the federal govt offered up to $10,000 for funeral expenses we would have more organs than we could transplant. rj:rolleyes:

[fergus51]

I do not speak a foreign language. Can you translate?

l didn't realize you were talking about my sig line for a sec:) It's French and my loose translation is "A stone has no ambition to be anything other than a stone. But through cooperation (with other stones) it becomes a temple". Sort of a message about the power of individuals who work together, but it never sounds right in English.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Here is what BabelFish says:

The stone n'a not to d'espoir d'etre another thing which stone. But to collaborate, it s'assemble and becomes temple

... . .. :)

[boulergirl, CNA]

I'm an organ donor, but have some concerns about it now. A couple of months ago, my mom posted an article about this on her online journal (blog): "Are You Licensed to be Killed? Understanding Brain Death". Apparently the person has to be living for the organs to be donated. Umm, anyone know if this is true?

[fergus51]

So you are saying we can buy an organ now with our guarantee to give one in the future. I read a science fiction story like this one time. The story line was that you donated your "extra" organs to powerful people that needed them now in order to be put on a waiting list to receive one later. Truth is indeed stranger than fiction.

No. I'm saying people who refuse to go on the donor list in the event that they die, should not be allowed on the recipient list. No free ride. Either people are willing to contribute to the system or they should not expect to take from the system.