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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To use your organs, don't they need to take you in when you're just "brain dead" as opposed to all the way dead?

It depends on the organ they need. Certainly brain dead and on life support will have the best chances of being able to use more organs. They work hard to find a match and scour through medical records/prep the person receiving the organ for surgery, and have helicopters waiting to move (if the organ has to travel). In our case, they also had to helicopter transplant surgeons in, who typically do the work as volunteers (at least in that state). I wrote above about my father being a donor who was kept on life support so they could find a match.

It freaks me out a bit that they take you to cut up before you're completely dead.

As others have said, brain dead is dead. Life support just keeps your organs working so that they are better preserved for donation. The donor organization can not come in until you are declared brain dead (and in some states, you need to have two determinations of brain death). The donor organization takes over cost of care but the family of the donor can stop the process at any time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To use your organs, don't they need to take you in when you're just "brain dead" as opposed to all the way dead?


[/quote
Brain dead is dead.

No, it is not. Otherwise there'd be no need for the distinction between "dead" and "brain dead."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not an organ donor. I don't generally have a problem with the whole thing. But I don't have an advocate for myself. I don't have family that would advocate and fight for me and I don't trust Drs to do what they can to save me or keep me alive when I don't have anyone there.
So I'd rather not be one. If they do wait and find my mom, she knows my wishes. At that point, I assume there is nothing else left to do and my mom can direct my organ donation (I told her what I'm want donated).

I thought about going on the bone marrow donor list but I was worried about the time commitment if I'm matched. It would be devastating if I was matched and could t do it.

I used to donate blood in Germany every 3 months and tried a few times here and was sent away every time.

For what reason?

But please consider getting on the bone marrow registry. Being matched is unlikely, but it really could save a person's life. Procedures are getting less and less invasive and time consuming.

I grew up in Germany and if you lived in Europe for a while (I think it used to be 3 or 6 months) they won't let you donate blood because of the mad cows disease in England.

Bone marrow donation is pretty easy these days. It's about like donating plasma.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not an organ donor. I don't generally have a problem with the whole thing. But I don't have an advocate for myself. I don't have family that would advocate and fight for me and I don't trust Drs to do what they can to save me or keep me alive when I don't have anyone there.
So I'd rather not be one. If they do wait and find my mom, she knows my wishes. At that point, I assume there is nothing else left to do and my mom can direct my organ donation (I told her what I'm want donated).

I thought about going on the bone marrow donor list but I was worried about the time commitment if I'm matched. It would be devastating if I was matched and could t do it.

I used to donate blood in Germany every 3 months and tried a few times here and was sent away every time.

This misperception makes me crazy. I cannot believe how pervasive it is. The doctors will do EVERYTHING to save your life. Your status as an organ donor has
NO impact on how they will care for you.

Do people think hospitals are like a giant organ-harvesting center, where anybody who's on the edge of death will just be pushed over in order to obtain more organs? Do people really believe that? That is insane.

Educate yourselves-- visit UNOS.org and read about the organ donation process. Learn about how, even if you're like the OP and have some health issues, you can still donate skin, tissue, etc., if you choose to do so. Learn about how your status as an organ donor has no effect on the care you receive. Please stop spreading misinformation.

[Anonymous]

I've heard from a nurse friend that she's seen doctors give up too soon on patients once they found out the person was an organ donor. I've also heard several horror stories of family members saying they've been pressured about organ donation when their family member was in the hospital.

Perhaps it depends on the hospital. I'm not an organ donor and have no plans to be one as of now. I don't think anyone should be guilted into it. If you don't want to do it, then don't.

[Anonymous]

That's funny. You think everyone should be doing what they want...till the day where YOU or YOUR loved one need an organ donor to live.
If you refuse to give your organs,the least you can do is to refuse to get a transplant as well. Be logical with yourself.

[Anonymous]

My kidney is not in the best shape due to an illness. I'm still going to let the organ teams take a look at it because 1) I will be dead and don't need it 2) what If it DOES help someone. Someone's daughter/wife/son.

I couldn't imagine not donating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've heard from a nurse friend that she's seen doctors give up too soon on patients once they found out the person was an organ donor. I've also heard several horror stories of family members saying they've been pressured about organ donation when their family member was in the hospital.

Perhaps it depends on the hospital. I'm not an organ donor and have no plans to be one as of now. I don't think anyone should be guilted into it. If you don't want to do it, then don't.

Bullshit.

It's ok to be scared of dying. But don't be a dickhead a spread lies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To use your organs, don't they need to take you in when you're just "brain dead" as opposed to all the way dead?

It depends on the organ they need. Certainly brain dead and on life support will have the best chances of being able to use more organs. They work hard to find a match and scour through medical records/prep the person receiving the organ for surgery, and have helicopters waiting to move (if the organ has to travel). In our case, they also had to helicopter transplant surgeons in, who typically do the work as volunteers (at least in that state). I wrote above about my father being a donor who was kept on life support so they could find a match.

It freaks me out a bit that they take you to cut up before you're completely dead.

As others have said, brain dead is dead. Life support just keeps your organs working so that they are better preserved for donation. The donor organization can not come in until you are declared brain dead (and in some states, you need to have two determinations of brain death). The donor organization takes over cost of care but the family of the donor can stop the process at any time.

This is not true. Having had a family member on life support, this is not fucking true. Asshole.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To use your organs, don't they need to take you in when you're just "brain dead" as opposed to all the way dead?

It depends on the organ they need. Certainly brain dead and on life support will have the best chances of being able to use more organs. They work hard to find a match and scour through medical records/prep the person receiving the organ for surgery, and have helicopters waiting to move (if the organ has to travel). In our case, they also had to helicopter transplant surgeons in, who typically do the work as volunteers (at least in that state). I wrote above about my father being a donor who was kept on life support so they could find a match.

It freaks me out a bit that they take you to cut up before you're completely dead.

As others have said, brain dead is dead. Life support just keeps your organs working so that they are better preserved for donation. The donor organization can not come in until you are declared brain dead (and in some states, you need to have two determinations of brain death). The donor organization takes over cost of care but the family of the donor can stop the process at any time.

This is not true. Having had a family member on life support, this is not fucking true. Asshole.

I agree with you. Don't some people come back to life after they've been declared "brain dead"?

Hell no! No one's taking my body parts until I'm all the way dead, at which time they're all toast.

[Anonymous]

What ever happened to your body your choice?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've heard from a nurse friend that she's seen doctors give up too soon on patients once they found out the person was an organ donor. I've also heard several horror stories of family members saying they've been pressured about organ donation when their family member was in the hospital.

Perhaps it depends on the hospital. I'm not an organ donor and have no plans to be one as of now. I don't think anyone should be guilted into it. If you don't want to do it, then don't.

Your nurse friend has never seen this, ever. No doctor, nurse, hospital would stop life-saving efforts unless all avenues have been exhausted. I implore you to educate yourself on the entire process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What ever happened to your body your choice?

People should always have a choice.

But don't be a hypocrite about it. Don't offer to donate any part of you when you die - that's fine. But then don't complain that you wouldn't receive any part of someone else, or be on the receiving end, if you develop a need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To use your organs, don't they need to take you in when you're just "brain dead" as opposed to all the way dead?

It depends on the organ they need. Certainly brain dead and on life support will have the best chances of being able to use more organs. They work hard to find a match and scour through medical records/prep the person receiving the organ for surgery, and have helicopters waiting to move (if the organ has to travel). In our case, they also had to helicopter transplant surgeons in, who typically do the work as volunteers (at least in that state). I wrote above about my father being a donor who was kept on life support so they could find a match.

It freaks me out a bit that they take you to cut up before you're completely dead.

As others have said, brain dead is dead. Life support just keeps your organs working so that they are better preserved for donation. The donor organization can not come in until you are declared brain dead (and in some states, you need to have two determinations of brain death). The donor organization takes over cost of care but the family of the donor can stop the process at any time.

This is not true. Having had a family member on life support, this is not fucking true. Asshole.

I agree with you. Don't some people come back to life after they've been declared "brain dead"?

Hell no! No one's taking my body parts until I'm all the way dead, at which time they're all toast.

You and the PPP have zero idea what you're talking about. Brain dead is when you have no brain function. You will not come back from that. Yes, the doctors can keep your body alive with drips and machines, but turn off those machines and you'll be dead...real dead. Why not allow someone to LIVE by donating you organs after you no longer need them?

[Anonymous]

So, if you are in a peresitent vegetative state (I don't think doctors say "brain dead") and they turn off the life support, the body will not continue on? Because I know that is not true, it will...until it starves to death.