Organ Donation Opt Out

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  1. Should organ donation be an opt out system

    • 619
      Yes, everyone should be considered a donor unless they "opt out" in the event of their death
    • 894
      No, you should only be considered a donor if you have specifically expressed that wish

1,513 members have participated

Specializes in Advanced Practice, surgery.

This thread has got me thinking

https://allnurses.com/nursing-news/wales-seeks-organ-445429.html

There are so many great opinions and discussions in it I thought I'd start a poll, it would appear there are a few of the European countries that have considered organ donation opt out schemes with the aim of increasing available donor organs.

Wales could become the first part of the UK introduce an opt-out system of organ donation under plans by the assembly government.

It would mean that Welsh residents would be presumed to be organ donors unless they have joined an opt out register or immediate relatives object.

Other exclusions include if a person's identity or place of residence cannot be confirmed.

But there has been criticism of the plans by the Conservatives.

The move is aimed at boosting organs available for transplants.

The so called 'soft opt-out' system is similar to that already used in Belgium and Portugal, where organ donation rates are far higher than in the UK

with Wales being one of the most recent

So what are your thoughts, I have set up a poll,

Yes I think everyone should be considered a donor unless they specifically opt out

No your organ should only be donated if you have actually expressed the wish to be a donor

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8420678.stm

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Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

I am not an organ donor and I would want to make sure that someone was aware of this when I died in an emergency situation. How will they make sure that they have a correct, up to date list?

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Specializes in FNP.

I just had a patient come in DOA, this patient had years ago been a recipient of a kidney, well gift of life said they would take his bones, skin and corneas, I thought the family would be greatfull since he was himself a recipient. OMG they were so offened and stated that no way was he going to go "through another surgery" to donate. So maybe instead of an opt out we could have an "if your going to take you have to give" policy.

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It's silly for a dead person to hang onto their organs when it can save another person's life. To know the organs are decomposing in a coffin when another person lives or dies -- it seems so selfish and pointless.

For the few who have religious or personal objections, they can be put on an Opt Out list.

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Specializes in NICU.

As much as I think everyone should be an organ donor, the fact remains that there are many who are not willing to be, and that should be respected. Given how many people (in the US, at least) forget to identify themselves as donors on their licenses, or forget to let their families know that they want to donate, I would be nervous setting up a system where it's assumed that someone is a donor unless it's specified otherwise.

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I am not an organ donor and I would want to make sure that someone was aware of this when I died in an emergency situation. How will they make sure that they have a correct, up to date list?

Put it on your driver's license like they already do for volunteer donors. And since I already see where this is going to go, if you opt out and don't drive, you carry a card that says so or you register with DMV for a state-issued identification card.

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It's silly for a dead person to hang onto their organs when it can save another person's life. To know the organs are decomposing in a coffin when another person lives or dies -- it seems so selfish and pointless.

For the few who have religious or personal objections, they can be put on an Opt Out list.

Hate to say it, but I totally agree with you. It's usually all well and good until THEY'RE the ones that need something from someone.

-Basement Cat

(ha ha - love the screen name!)

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

OKAY so maybe I've read one too many Michael Palmer novels, but I don't want anyone taking my organs unless I make a conscious, rational choice to donate them. In Massachusetts the DMV has stopped sending notices telling us our driver's license is expiring. I can imagine what would happen if the governing body 'forgets' to send out the 'thanks but I think I'll keep my organs' card. Too many chances for someone to make a huge mistake.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Both my husband and myself have discussed this at great length and both agree if it can be used and we are definitely clinically brain dead then they can have it. If it can be used to save another person or other people then fine with us

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Specializes in home health, dialysis, others.

My credo? "Take what you can and burn the rest"

I am Jewish, and these issues have been discussed in my Temple. Although we are supposed to be buried intact, I think the better idea is to save as many lives as we can. And cremation is not supposed to be an option, either. But I can't justify taking up so much space.

Have a party, then start a scholarship fund for 'old' nurses who want to do something completely different!

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Opting out is a better strategy IMO. I am an organ donor but I think that making a person choose to opt out yields better results.

(There are plenty of studies out there that actually call for a form of benevolent paternalism. Choice is good but it can yield really bad results if there is a surplus of choice.)

retirement savings is an example that is often used. People choose not to start a contribution plan out of fear of loss and then end up not saving at all for the long haul. Behavioral economists make the argument that it is better to give a set of choices that essentially make the individual choose from good choices only with the no contribution option as not being part of the menu.

See Nudge for an extensive discussion about soft paternalism.

For organ donation this could be structured as which systems would be considered for donation:

skin/bones only

internal organs only

all systems

or everything except.....

IOW organ donation opt out would be a last result.

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

I definitely want to donate it ALL.

It's on my medicalert bracelet and my driver's license, wish I had some stickers to put on everything I own, but I don't think I can afford that many. The reason I think we need the opt out is that it is forbidden by many orthodox religions, and people still have control over their own bodies no matter what belief system.

On that train of thought what do they do with my pacemaker, I know they can't usually be reused but do they return it to the cardiologist or what?

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