Is it horrible I don't want to donate my organs?

[Anonymous]

My sister has congenital heart disease and we know a transplant is in the future for her (it's actually statistically amazing she has made it to 35) so I am obviously not neutral on the topic but I have watched so many "heart" kids and adults who were on their last days, got a transplant, and now are living a good life. Please talk to people about what it is actually like when a family member donates organs. You obviously have a choice as it is your body but you seem to hold a idea of the process that is not accurate. The transplant teams are very kind and it does not look or feel like they are tearing you apart or ripped away from your family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How are your eyes? Maybe you'd be down to donate corneas?

This.

Also, OP, it's not like how they portray it on TV at all. Doctors aren't pressuring grieving family members to pull the plug to get a heart, lung, etc. That's just done for dramatic effect.

[Anonymous]

If you change your mind at a later date, you can always select "organ donor" when you renew your driver's license.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How are your eyes? Maybe you'd be down to donate corneas?

I was going to ask this question as well. You don't even need good vision to donate corneas.

But, OP, it's your body. Do what feels right to you.

[Anonymous]

I think organ donation should be a 2-way street. If you're not willing to sign up as an organ donor, then you shouldn't be allowed to receive a transplant.

[Anonymous]

OP, you do not have to be the judge of whether or not your organs can be transplanted. They won't take them if they are damaged so I don't think they would take yours. They could use your corneas. I think you know this, you just want to justify your decision to yourself. You do not have to sign up to be an organ donor. But I agree with the others that you did a real disservice with your last line.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not horrible that you don't want to donate your organs.

It's horrible that you're talking smack about transplant teams, who work harder than you can possibly imagine to save lives.

Grow up.

+1. Also, as to your family's peace, as someone who has lost a loved one whose organs were donated, I actually found great peace in knowing that his organs were donated. While I was still devastated to have lost him so sudden and unexpectedly (brain aneurysm), the idea that his death might at least save a whole bunch of other people from suffering similar devastation from the untimely loss of their loved ones (multiple organs were donated) was a great comfort.

+1
My cousin died in a stupid, tragic, teenaged accident and it brought my aunt so much peace to know her son lives on in many different people, improving or saving their lives.

But agree that nobody wants your damaged organs.

The thing is, no transplant program is going to use your damaged organs.
They will only use what is in decent condition.

[Anonymous]

I know someone who received a liver transplant. As others have said, it was life-changing for him.

In a less fatal manner, my dad received a cartilage transplant in his ankle. They told him it came from a pediatric donor; my family cried when we heard that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think organ donation should be a 2-way street. If you're not willing to sign up as an organ donor, then you shouldn't be allowed to receive a transplant.

I know it may sound cruel, but I tend to agree with this, in a "treat people how you want to be treated/golden rule" way. If you don't want to give, you can't really expect to get. I'm a healthy person with no serious issues, but what on earth would I care what happens to my body bits and pieces when I'm dead? As far as I'm concerned, you can have my eyeballs or skin or whatever, just like you can have my hair when I get a haircut or toenail clippings if you really want them. I don't need them anymore. If they'll be of benefit to someone else, then go for it!

- organ donor
- on the national bone marrow registry
- donate blood 1-2x a year

[Anonymous]

Then there's this: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/patient-wakes-doctors-remove-organs/story?id=19609438

It may be crazy, but I just don't fully trust that the doctors have my best interest in mind when they so desperately need my organs to help others.

[Anonymous]

How's your face? Great article today about the medical advances in facial donations. Maybe not life-saving, it's certainly life-changing for the recipients who've been victims to horrendous tragedy.

Another point no one's mentioned: even old diseased bodies are needed as cadavers in all medical schools. Think about it. (And read Stiff if you have the stomach for it).

[Anonymous]

OP, did you ever need blood or anything from another person when you had cancer, or for any other reason in your life?

Think of it as giving back, or paying it forward. Even if parts of your body can't be used, consider donating your body to science, or a medical school for students/future doctors to use and learn from.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not horrible that you don't want to donate your organs.

It's horrible that you're talking smack about transplant teams, who work harder than you can possibly imagine to save lives.

Grow up.

+++++++++

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How's your face? Great article today about the medical advances in facial donations. Maybe not life-saving, it's certainly life-changing for the recipients who've been victims to horrendous tragedy.

Another point no one's mentioned: even old diseased bodies are needed as cadavers in all medical schools. Think about it. (And read Stiff if you have the stomach for it).

+1 If my organs were not good for transplant, I would donate my body to science in some other way.

And definitely read "Stiff." Interesting and darkly hilarious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not horrible that you don't want to donate your organs.

It's horrible that you're talking smack about transplant teams, who work harder than you can possibly imagine to save lives.

Grow up.

+1. Also, as to your family's peace, as someone who has lost a loved one whose organs were donated, I actually found great peace in knowing that his organs were donated. While I was still devastated to have lost him so sudden and unexpectedly (brain aneurysm), the idea that his death might at least save a whole bunch of other people from suffering similar devastation from the untimely loss of their loved ones (multiple organs were donated) was a great comfort.

Another person here who found that the deceased person's organ donation was a source of solace. The idea that my loved one was helping people, even in death, made me happy.