What bull shite. They did not publish this to scare people. They published this article to inform people and the information is valid and important. Yes, it will cause a decrease in donations but until there is oversight of the organizations that harvest the organs and the hospital's procedures we are foolhardy to trust. In the current climate with this petty narcissist in control who only wants oversight in to who has hurt his feelings, it is unlikely that reasonable regulation will happen any time soon. Stop trying to tell us there is nothing to see when there is absolutely lots we need to see. |
How do you opt out in Virginia? To clarify, do you actually have to go to the DMV in person as a few others here have mentioned? |
This may be the most important bit of info in the article. This is insane and we know what the outcome will be from this pressure from the government towards these companies. This is reason enough to consider taking your name off a list. |
Not when the federal government is applying pressure to these harvesting organizations to increase their numbers of organs donated. Anyone with two brain cells sees that this is a problem. The government is threatening to end contracts to these companies if they don't meet a quota of organs. These companies will be much less likely to behave reasonably. |
Similar to the "do not call" list there should be a national registry of individuals who do not wish to be organ donors. Especially so with the NYT article. |
+1 Also, you can donate without being part of the registry. I’ve removed myself from my state’s registry. My family can choose to donate if they want, but no ghoulish organizations will know that in advance. |
I used to work in healthcare. I will say this: I know this is happening. Organs are big business $$$$. This is discusting and at this point in time it's not a good idea to put your name on the donation list.
Furthermore if you think this is horrifying. Please go watch the documentary Trafficked with Mariana Van Zeller, Black Market Organs. Also eye-opening. I think a lot of people are very ignorant about what's happening in hospitals these days. The reach they have, the many, many people who look the other way each day at work. The lack of whistle blowers. The people who walk with their heads down in the hallways. |
Watching what happens to healthcare whistleblowers has changed my outlook on healthcare completely. The system tries to destroy them. I’m honestly shocked the NYT was able to even report on this. |
Would it not be possible to take yourself off the organ donation list but include in a living will a directive or request that if you are truly in brain death, not just circulatory death, that your spouse/POA can take you off life support and donate your organs? |
No, you do not go in person. You opt out of the registry online, and then if you want you can also have your driver's license reissued (online) for $20. The link to the registry is on the VA DMV website. |
Sure. The main downside is that in a situation where your family is not there fast enough - for example, a car accident on your commute - your organs will not be used. Ditto if your designated person were injured in the car with you. That's a legit downside and a reduction in donations that will happen if people opt out. You have to weigh the likelihood of that against the likelihood you are in one of these weird but horrific situations where the OPO is pushing and the doc isn't sure. |
What happens to them? Can you give examples? |