[Retrodiction]

(Original post by L i b)
No. I think it's utterly obscene for the state to presume ownership of a person's corpse.

Yes, it's so awful that your corpse's organs might go to save somebody's life without your explicit say-so...

[SunderX]

I signed up when I registered for a license and am giving everything away except my eyes. Because that's just a little bit creepy, and I want my corpse to be at least presentable.

I'm not terribly enthusiastic about an opt-out system, but I would probably support one if only so that it becomes an issue in people's minds and can save people's lives in ambiguous cases. How would you feel if one of your parents died after an accident just because the doctors didn't know whether a corpse needed a heart or not?

People should have a direct say over their bodies, but the presumption should be that everyone is going to be a good Samaritan.

[L i b]

(Original post by Retrodiction)
Yes, it's so awful that your corpse's organs might go to save somebody's life without your explicit say-so...

It is indeed if it involves a blatant act of immorality to bring about. There is a clear division between what is right and what may bring about good consequences.

[cl_steele]

theyre welcome to my organs once im gone, not as if im going to be using them anymore. whether they actually want them or not is something else entirely though

[Mr. Tizzy XII]

Yeah i'm signed up.

I don't give a crap what happens to my body once I die - I won't be needing it any more. And if it can help save someones life, or even just help them learn how to cut people up, who wouldn't want that?

[Retrodiction]

(Original post by L i b)
It is indeed if it involves a blatant act of immorality to bring about. There is a clear division between what is right and what may bring about good consequences.

This sounds like a claim of objective morality. Can I ask your source? You sound pretty certain that using a corpse's organs to save somebody's life is wrong.

[L i b]

(Original post by Retrodiction)
This sounds like a claim of objective morality.

Just the existence of morality at all and its enforcability through the law.

Can I ask your source?

That the right is rationally separate from the good? It's one of the oldest principles in jurisprudence - I'm afraid I have no idea who first came up with it, however.

[Retrodiction]

(Original post by L i b)
Just the existence of morality at all and its enforcability through the law.



That the right is rationally separate from the good? It's one of the oldest principles in jurisprudence - I'm afraid I have no idea who first came up with it, however.

So if the government were to change the law, using your organs without your explicit permission would become acceptable for you?

[L i b]

(Original post by Retrodiction)
So if the government were to change the law, using your organs without your explicit permission would become acceptable for you?

No, quite the opposite of what I'm saying.

[Retrodiction]

(Original post by L i b)
No, quite the opposite of what I'm saying.

So on what logic is it wrong for a corpse's organs to be used to save the lives of people who actually need them?

[MillyPixie]

I don't think we should have a choice. The opportunity for life trumps the beliefs of the family. Simples. If someone is unfortunate enough to be pronounced to have minimal brain activity then their own life is over and they, consequentially, do not need their organs. What beliefs could they hold that are stronger than the opportunity to give life to so many people by donating? Surely if the donor was in the position that they or a loved one needed an organ donation, they would want someone to be decent enough to donate to them? These are my opinions - people generally don't like them, apparently I ignore religion and human rights. Sorry.

[cyfer]

(Original post by DavidTheYoung)
Are you an organ donor?

If not, why aren't you?

Do you think you should be automatically signed to the organ donor register at birth and only removed at your request?

I don't see why I would need any organs once I am dead so they're free to be of use to anybody once I die.

Organ donor as in upon death or generally donating kidneys etc?

Donating kidneys is a bad idea, for medical reasons.
Otherwise I wouldn't like my body used for such purposes.

Automatically signing people onto an organ donor register removes the option of free will/choice and that would surely invoke our human rights.

[cyfer]

(Original post by MillyPixie)
I don't think we should have a choice. The opportunity for life trumps the beliefs of the family. Simples. If someone is unfortunate enough to be pronounced to have minimal brain activity then their own life is over and they, consequentially, do not need their organs. What beliefs could they hold that are stronger than the opportunity to give life to so many people by donating? Surely if the donor was in the position that they or a loved one needed an organ donation, they would want someone to be decent enough to donate to them? These are my opinions - people generally don't like them, apparently I ignore religion and human rights. Sorry.

A huge amount of organ failure arises from human ignorance/not accepting the limitations of the body for example from obesity or excessive alcohol/narcotics consumption. Do these people deserve 'another chance'? Should we differentiate between these and those that have had it through no fault of their own?

On the other hand - could you say that a person who works on a construction site (very high levels of radiation) caused their own organ failure (if it was due to excessive radiation) and therefore do not deserve a donation?

Just a thought.

[Jelkin]

It makes me feel a bit sick to think of all the organs that rot in the ground when they could be used to save people's lives. When I am dead, I don't care what happens to my body, so long as it doesn't hurt anybody. I won't need it. HOW can anyone be against this idea? Even people who deny only their eyes bother me a bit, if I'm honest. Such a superficial squeamishness. Even if my corneas could "only" save eyesight, what a gift that is!

An opt-in system wouldn't be the government taking over ownership of your body, what an idiotic idea. What interest would they have in doing that? The only thought is in favour of saving people. It flabbergasts me that anyone is against it, yet even more that anyone is pro-organ donation but too lazy to sign up for it.

If I die, I hope anything useful I have is used to save as many people as possible, or even just to save the use of as much of someone's body as possible. In the end, it's a tiny sacrifice, for a huge gain by someone else.

Once I am dead, as far as I am concerned, I have no rights. The rights of the living far exceed those of a soulless body. Even necrophilia, to me, is only wrong because it is painful to friends/family of the living.

[MillyPixie]

(Original post by cyfer)
A huge amount of organ failure arises from human ignorance/not accepting the limitations of the body for example from obesity or excessive alcohol/narcotics consumption. Do these people deserve 'another chance'? Should we differentiate between these and those that have had it through no fault of their own?

On the other hand - could you say that a person who works on a construction site (very high levels of radiation) caused their own organ failure (if it was due to excessive radiation) and therefore do not deserve a donation?

Just a thought.

As far as I'm aware, though I am open to correction, people who cause their own organ failure by drug or alcohol consumption or lifestyle change which will positively otherwise are not placed on a transplant list until they are deserving of a donation - by this I mean that they have made a impact their recovery, be it stopping drinking or drastic weight-loss etc.

Also - I don't think a donation would cure any illness caused by radiation... However, when people work in a sector where the possibility of injury is significantly higher than say an office job, they should be made aware of the dangers so appropriate action may be taken to protect themselves. If they follow all rules and measures to keep themselves safe then fine, all is well and good, but if they choose to ignore advice and find themselves ill, they are as equally detrimental to their ownhealth as if they were morbidly obese or substance abusing.

[Skaði]

I signed up (can't remember when...a few months ago?) I'm going to donate blood too soon, but I need someone to come with me and hold my hand due to my ridiculous hatred of needles I'm O Negative, so I feel I should: I'm the universal donor!

[MillyPixie]

(Original post by cyfer)
Organ donor as in upon death or generally donating kidneys etc?

Donating kidneys is a bad idea, for medical reasons.
Otherwise I wouldn't like my body used for such purposes.

Automatically signing people onto an organ donor register removes the option of free will/choice and that would surely invoke our human rights.

Also, when you're dead, what rights do you have? By wasting perfectly good organs, you would be denying someone the chance to live a full, healthy life. What about their rights?

[insignificant]

I just joined up My catalyst was watching great ormond street and seeing all those children needing organs, I'd be much happier if I was dying knowing I could save lives.

[MillyPixie]

(Original post by insignificant)
I just joined up My catalyst was watching great ormond street and seeing all those children needing organs, I'd be much happier if I was dying knowing I could save lives.

That does put a lighter spin on dying. :P But it's a good point, I hadn't thought of that.

[Rescue Remedy]

im signed up as a multi donor i think that includes everything but i would gladly let them harvest skin/eyes everything basically ... i want to be cremated so it wont matter to me just a corpse afterall. the way i look at is if i dont need them anymore and they are healthy/useful enough to give someone else life them im all for it

i would love to be able to donate blood but im anaemic its a struggle im always low in iron or borderline (off topic slightly ). i have no clue if that would effect me as a donor i hope not. iron supplements arnt helping much anyway.

so i know everyone has a right to choose what happens to their body but i just hope that if anything happened to me i could get a donor and if i get in a accident i can give a few people a few more years

i dont want to speak about other people's opinions/rights on this because its a personal thing not some government decision ( i know in theory its good but in practice ??? ). i dont want to force my strong feelings about it down someone's throat.. i just hope they could see why its such a great thing to be able to offer someone life