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| Thread: To donate or not to donate? |  This thread is pages long: 1 2 3 4 5 · NEXT» |
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Corribus
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posted June 20, 2008 05:12 PM |
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Edited by Corribus at 17:12, 20 Jun 2008.
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To donate or not to donate?
Question:
(1) Are you an organ donor?
And two follow-ups:
(2) Yesterday, I heard that the state of New Jersey just passed (or is considering passing - I'm not sure which) a law which forces a person, upon getting their drivers' license, to answer this question. Apparently, this is actually the first state that has such a law - I guess you are not required to even answer the question in most states. How do you feel about this? (NOTE: NJ is not forcing you to be an organ donor - they are just forcing you to choose.)
(3) On the radio show I was listening to, the host said that he would be in favor of the state ASSUMING you are an organ donor unless you specifically say otherwise. How do you feel about this?
My own thoughts:
(1) I am an organ donor, and can conceive of no salient arguments against being one. Maybe someone can convince me, but I just don't see why you'd want to keep your organs from someone who needs them if you've checked out of the Life Hotel anyway.
(2) I have no problem with this. It will save hospitals and health workers a lot of logistical problems trying to track down the information from dying (and probably nonresponsive) patients who have organs that need to be harvested in a limited amount of time. It also forces people to at least think about the question.
(3) I sort of have a problem with this. If the government assumes anything, it should assume you are NOT an organ donor. I mean, what if you don't have your drivers license on you and you are run over by a bus, and you have selected NOT to be an organ donor. They would then assume you're a donor and harvest your organs. I think if you're going to err, you have to err on the side of caution.
What do you all think?
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Lexxan
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Unimpressed by your logic
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posted June 20, 2008 06:00 PM |
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1) What do you mean by this ? Do you mean A) "Are you an organ Donor presently" or B) "Do you wish to become one later?" In case of A), the aswer is "no", in case of B) however, the aswer is "yes, I'd like to become one." It depends however. While alive, I'd like to donate a kidney or anything else I can miss, and after I die they can take other organs (like the liver). I personally believe that if it can save lives by donating something we don't need (anymore), I say "Why not ?"
2) I have aproblem with this. I cannot accept that a government of a Country/State forces it's inhabitants to do something, even if it is something small, like deciding to donate or not. I see such thing as autoritarian and morally incorrect and simply can't cope with that. Only in the direst of times can the government force it's population to do something (like joining the army).
3) I also have problems with this. As long as you haven't got permission for that person, you can't take away his/her organs. It's injust and immoral. If you wish do become a donator, just sigh up and if you don't want to, resume living you lives and leave the others alone (and they should be left alone too, at least, by the government)
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Asheera
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posted June 20, 2008 06:23 PM |
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1) I'd like to become an organ donor, but only after I'm dead and when I have no more use of it. I certainly don't like to lose one of my organs when I'm alive.
2) I see no problem in this. I don't mind answering a question like this, in fact I just did it in (1).
btw, can you answer "I don't know yet" so that those that can't make up their minds can get their license?
3) I certainly DON'T like this one. You can't assume something like this, and you cannot just take someone's organs without his/her permission. This is plain wrong and they should assume the opposite, that you are not an organ donor, until you sign up.
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Corribus
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posted June 20, 2008 06:45 PM |
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Just to be clear, nobody is taking your organs while you are alive and well. Basically, if you were in, for instance, a fatal car crash, and were declared brain dead, if you elected to be an organ donor, many of your vital organs (kidney, liver, heart, cornea, maybe some others) would be harvested to be given to other people who seriously need them. There is a huge gap between supply and demand for healthy organs, and many people die every year just waiting for organs. If you are not old enough to have a drivers' license, then I don't think the question applies to you, because (I could be wrong) I don't think you can be a donor until that time. If you elect to be an organ donor, this will appear on your drivers' license, so that, in the event that you are brain dead, hospital workers will know that you want to donate your organs.
@Lexxan
Quote:
2) I have aproblem with this. I cannot accept that a government of a Country/State forces it's inhabitants to do something, even if it is something small, like deciding to donate or not. I see such thing as autoritarian and morally incorrect and simply can't cope with that. Only in the direst of times can the government force it's population to do something (like joining the army).
I do have a problem with the government forcing you to do things. But simply forcing you to make a choice? I don't see what the harm is in that.
@Asheera
Quote:
btw, can you answer "I don't know yet" so that those that can't make up their minds can get their license?
Well essentially right now what happens (at least in PA) is that when you go in to get your license, they ask you if you want to be a donor, and you either say "Yes", in which case you get a little sticker/decal on your license, or you say something else, in which case you get nothing. An "I don't know" is essentially a "No". My guess is that what New Jersey is trying to do is force people to say "Yes" or "No", and if they say "No", then some sort of "No" will appear on the license. That way it is definitive that they do not want to be an organ donor. I think what probably happens a lot of times is that people show up at a hospital who are brain dead, and their license doesn't say anything, and the hospital people have to wonder "Well, did the person really not want to be an organ donor? Or were they not sure and hadn't gotten around to actually thinking about it." Forcing someone to answer the question makes it very clear what they want to happen. It also forces them to actually make a decision rather than just putting it off. So, under the terms of the new law, you cannot answer "I don't know." I think the distinction is very subtle.
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TnT_Addict
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posted June 20, 2008 06:46 PM |
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Asheera
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posted June 20, 2008 06:52 PM |
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Quote:
Well essentially right now what happens (at least in PA) is that when you go in to get your license, they ask you if you want to be a donor, and you either say "Yes", in which case you get a little sticker/decal on your license, or you say something else, in which case you get nothing. An "I don't know" is essentially a "No". My guess is that what New Jersey is trying to do is force people to say "Yes" or "No", and if they say "No", then some sort of "No" will appear on the license. That way it is definitive that they do not want to be an organ donor. I think what probably happens a lot of times is that people show up at a hospital who are brain dead, and their license doesn't say anything, and the hospital people have to wonder "Well, did the person really not want to be an organ donor? Or were they not sure and hadn't gotten around to actually thinking about it." Forcing someone to answer the question makes it very clear what they want to happen. It also forces them to actually make a decision rather than just putting it off. So, under the terms of the new law, you cannot answer "I don't know." I think the distinction is very subtle.
Thanks for clarifying that
And yes I'd like to be an organ donor when I'm in a brain-dead status.
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Lexxan
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posted June 20, 2008 06:53 PM |
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Quote:
@Lexxan
Quote:
2) I have aproblem with this. I cannot accept that a government of a Country/State forces it's inhabitants to do something, even if it is something small, like deciding to donate or not. I see such thing as autoritarian and morally incorrect and simply can't cope with that. Only in the direst of times can the government force it's population to do something (like joining the army).
I do have a problem with the government forcing you to do things. But simply forcing you to make a choice? I don't see what the harm is in that.
You don't, but I do see harm in it. It just doesn't feel right. That Government in fact forces other to have an oppinion ,and by doing so, automatically forces some (not all) to have an oppinion they don't support. What is the use of that. Ok, I agree that 2 is not as bad as 3, but it's a similar way of thinking that's behind both.
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Asheera
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posted June 20, 2008 06:59 PM |
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@Lex: Just think that you'll help some people at the hospital (I mean the wondering doctors) with this decision. Yes, it forces you, but it is actually for a good cause. It's not like they force you to smoke
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Corribus
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posted June 20, 2008 06:59 PM |
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@Lexxan
Do you feel it is wrong for the government to force you to stop at stop signs?
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Lexxan
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posted June 20, 2008 07:05 PM |
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Edited by Lexxan at 19:12, 20 Jun 2008.
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Quote:
@Lexxan
Do you feel it is wrong for the government to force you to stop at stop signs?
Hahahaha  . Point taken. Well, yeah... Alright then. I'll learn to live with it.
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Coincidence? I think not!!!!
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william
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posted June 20, 2008 07:11 PM |
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Quote:
In a couple of years, once they start cloning humans (or human parts  ), there won't be any need for organ donators.
I think it might be a lot longer. The Human body is quite complex and juts being able to keep cloned body parts stay nice and healthy would be a tough job. Look how many troubles they had when they tried to clone animals.
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emilsn
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posted June 20, 2008 08:48 PM |
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Ill only answer on number 1.
No I am not, I guess I am to young to decide by myself. but would I do it. Hmm... I'm not sure if I would be a ORGAN donor, but blood yes take as much as you want. I actully thinks it is a hard choice to make, because some things you can live without - but when you die you dont need 'em, but I still don't think I would like for them to remove them all Think about it: Being all hollow when you're being put down in the earth
In Denmark for a couple of months ago, they had a discussing wether you should be an organ donor from birth and then you could say no later. I didn't like that idea, as the whole thing would be forced apon you and then I think no one would wanna be it, People should do it out of kindness and not out having to do it.
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mvassilev
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posted June 20, 2008 10:44 PM |
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Quote:
Do you feel it is wrong for the government to force you to stop at stop signs?
When you drive on public roads, you implicitly make an agreement to abide by traffic laws. So the analogy does not apply.
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del_diablo
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posted June 20, 2008 11:23 PM |
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1) No
2) I find this to be good, simply because it would clear the matter at a age when most people are fully capabel of major choices.
3) I think this is good, currently it is that if you do NOT take the trouble to sign up as a ogan donor you will not be one. This reverses the problem by adding a small ibt of trouble on not becoming one. It is simply good because alot of people is willing but to lazy to sign up.
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Dragon_Slayer
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toss toss toss
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posted June 21, 2008 07:11 AM |
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You know ive heard the if you are in a car accident or some other serious injury, paramedics are more likely to let you die if your an organ donor. Reason being is that they could save so many other lives by losing one.
Sounds crazy i know but apparantly its true
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OmegaDestroyer
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posted June 21, 2008 07:20 AM |
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1) Yes.
2) Not quite sure what the rationale for the law is, so I can't really comment properly on it. My gut is telling me that it will survive a challnage due to rational basis scrutiny. I'm sure a plaintiff will have a difficult time proving the law is not rationally related to a legitimate government interest.
3) I completely disagree with the statement. The government should never assume anything about anyone. Because if they assume that people are organ donors, how long will it take for that assumption to turn into a duty?
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Mytical
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posted June 21, 2008 07:36 AM |
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1) No, but do to medical reasons. Since I have Non-Alcoholic Streato Hepititis (spelling?) I don't want to give it to somebody else. Though there is only a very small chance of any organ but my liver doing so. (Told less then 1% for anything but liver).
2) Ohio asks the question also, but I am not sure if it is a law they have to or not. You don't have to be opposed to it to answer no, so to me it doesn't force you to have an opinon.
3) No this is a bad idea. Some people have personal convictions against donating blood or body parts. Bad bad idea.
Now I personally have no issues with organ donation. It can save a lot of peoples life, and I don't see how that could be a bad thing. Me, I would donate blood and organs if I could (have donated blood in the past and until I was told it was unsafe for others I was an organ donor).
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roy-algriffin
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posted June 21, 2008 08:30 AM |
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I dont think i can because ive had radioactive materials in my body. but i would say yes.
I only see something wrong with the law because it shames people to donate organs, What if they dont want to tell others their stance on this? What if they dont want others to know they said 'No" when they could have saved someones life?
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Asheera
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posted June 21, 2008 12:27 PM |
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Quote:
You know ive heard the if you are in a car accident or some other serious injury, paramedics are more likely to let you die if your an organ donor. Reason being is that they could save so many other lives by losing one.
Sounds crazy i know but apparantly its true
Are you sure about that?
It sucks
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TheDeath
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posted June 21, 2008 02:04 PM |
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I have my own reasons about (1) and society is kinda flawed.
Regarding (2), I think it sucks to put it in a driver's license.
But (3), is completely ridiculous. Corribus & Omega said it well -- the government should not assume things about you, and if they are, they should assume that you are NOT a donor.
Quote:
In a couple of years, once they start cloning humans (or human parts ), there won't be any need for organ donators.
I don't think cloning would be a good solution -- are we going to harvest humans like we harvest corn? I don't know if it's possible to clone organs separately. But even there, I'm not sure if that'll be the case.
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