NationStates Jolt Archive

I'm not sure why we hold our material bodies with such high regard post mortem. Naturally, it is uncomfortabloe to imagine a bunch of masked people slicing you open and harvesting everything bit of tissue. More reasonably, imagine a seven year old girl whose entire life is saved because of one organ that you no longer need.

Today I was feeling lousy and glancing upon my driver's license I saw Organ Donor, and thought about that little girl. Suddenly today felt pretty damn good.

the only problem with the organ donor thing is that in some countries (like australia), that can be overridden by your next of kin, which makes it rather useless unless you convince them about it first

I don't mind my organs being messed with after death - it's the chance that the doctor jumps the gun and starts going ape on my carcass before it's dead that irks me somewhat. It's been known to happen. :(

My organs may be too big for a little girl... If thats how it works.

I have a card mostly so I can feel superior but also because it makes my wallet look less empty

the only problem with the organ donor thing is that in some countries (like australia), that can be overridden by your next of kin, which makes it rather useless unless you convince them about it first

That seems rather silly if you yourself have already agreed to it. It would be like my future eldest son changing my will so he inherits everything.

I have a card mostly so I can feel superior but also because it makes my wallet look less empty

Lucky. We don't get fancy cards - it's just the back of your driver's license. :(

Lucky. We don't get fancy cards - it's just the back of your driver's license. :(

It's on the front of mine, but New Jersey Licenses are actually very nice anyways.

That seems rather silly if you yourself have already agreed to it. It would be like my future eldest son changing my will so he inherits everything.
actually, come to think of it, it may not be the next of kin that gets the decision, but with the marking on the drivers license, i'm reasonably sure that's not final. i guess that's why we have both marking on our licenses and we have a donor registry that hands out cards, which i think can't be overridden, but i'm not sure

It's on the front of mine, but New Jersey Licenses are actually very nice anyways.

Weird. New Jersey freaks me out, I swear it. ;)

Weird. New Jersey freaks me out, I swear it. ;)

It's a very...different...state.

I wuv it.

the only problem with the organ donor thing is that in some countries (like australia), that can be overridden by your next of kin, which makes it rather useless unless you convince them about it first

Also, even if your licence says you are a donor, you actually have to register independently of that to actually be an organ donor, and a lot of people don't know this.

I can't be an organ donor.

I can't be an organ donor.

Lemme guess - android? :)

I'm not sure about family overriding your request to be an organ donor..but I do know that if you are not one , your family can decide to donate them anyways.

I intended to be, and marked it off when I applied for my license. But they forgot to put the little thing on my license, and I was so relieved that I got it I didn't notice until later. At this point, I never want to see the inside of a DMV again, so I'll probably just get it added the first time I have to renew it.

I'm not sure about family overriding your request to be an organ donor..but I do know that if you are not one , your family can decide to donate them anyways.

That sounds a bit more likely, especially if you didn't specify before going into a catatonic state or something.

i'm not, but then i don't know how to register. my driving liscence has a bit on it that i sign so that if i die in a crash they can whip out my squishy bits and hand them on to the nearest sick person or zombie.

i'm not, but then i don't know how to register.

http://www.uktransplant.org.uk/ukt/how_to_become_a_donor/registration/consent.jsp

google is your friend (a very nosy friend who watches your every search though)

apparently if you transplant my organs, then the person who gets them will get my auto-immune disorder.

does that mean you can't receive organs though? ;) < had to add that or I would never forgive myself

Lemme guess - android? :)

apparently if you transplant my organs, then the person who gets them will get my auto-immune disorder. (which I think is better than being dead, but apparently the organ harvesting people don't.....)

http://www.uktransplant.org.uk/ukt/how_to_become_a_donor/registration/consent.jsp

google is your friend (a very nosy friend who watches your every search though)

i'm worried about the girl holding the missile. is that what they use to remove the organs do you think? ...:eek:

I'm listed as an organ donor, even though I think having my body cut up is creepy. I suppose being registered as a donor is the lesser of two evils though, especially since I have no plans to die in a hospital.

apparently if you transplant my organs, then the person who gets them will get my auto-immune disorder. (which I think is better than being dead, but apparently the organ harvesting people don't.....)

Ah, that sucks. :(

does that mean you can't receive organs though? ;) < had to add that or I would never forgive myself

you know.......I don't know :( my disease is manageable so prolly I can get them, just can't return the favor.

they won't let me donate blood anymore either, which sucks because before I got my disease under control I was always too anemic but now that I am healthy, I still can't donate.

I have the same blood type as my husband and my kids.....but probably won't be allowed to give them any, even if they needed it. :(

i'm worried about the girl holding the missile. is that what they use to remove the organs do you think? ...:eek:

I actually thought I had found porn when I clicked the link :p

I'm not sure why we hold our material bodies with such high regard post mortem.

Religious beliefs. Some believe that what's done to their material bodies affects (effects?) their body in the afterlife. Hence, mummification.

you know.......I don't know :( my disease is manageable so prolly I can get them, just can't return the favor.

they won't let me donate blood anymore either, which sucks because before I got my disease under control I was always too anemic but now that I am healthy, I still can't donate.

I have the same blood type as my husband and my kids.....but probably won't be allowed to give them any, even if they needed it. :(

have some chocolate.:(

Am I an organ donor? Hell no. Will ever be? Probably not.

Am I an organ donor? Hell no. Will ever be? Probably not.

If you don't mind me asking, why not?

Maybe there is a reason (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_selection) that little girl is sick.

i'll keep my organs thank you

I'd give my kidneys, possibly liver, but probably not my heart.

Maybe there is a reason (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_selection) that little girl is sick.

Maybe there is a reason why we have the technology to transplant organs and make the girl better. Natural Selection is not limited to just a single being, why do you think kindness is a strength?

Maybe there is a reason why we have the technology to transplant organs and make the girl better. Natural Selection is not limited to just a single being, why do you think kindness is a strength?

Statistically, your liver and kidneys, heart, etc. are far more likely going to some
middle-aged chain-smoker or alcoholic who wore out his/her organs through decades of self abuse. The vast majority of children requiring organs do so because they are suffering from congenital deformities or diseases that are best removed from the gene pool (see above under "natural selection"). I have no inclination to be hacked up for the sake of either group.

*snip*

Hey! This is the first time I've seen you posting here! How's Dobbs?

Anyone else think the world would be quite a bit better place if everyone were automatically listed as a donor and you had to opt out instead of the other way around?

Anyone else think the world would be quite a bit better place if everyone were automatically listed as a donor and you had to opt out instead of the other way around?

And let the guilt trips begin.

Statistically, your liver and kidneys, heart, etc. are far more likely going to some
middle-aged chain-smoker or alcoholic who wore out his/her organs through decades of self abuse. The vast majority of children requiring organs do so because they are suffering from congenital deformities or diseases that are best removed from the gene pool (see above under "natural selection"). I have no inclination to be hacked up for the sake of either group.

Eugenics at it's best.

Call me old fashioned, but I'm more than willing to share something I don't need anymore regardless of the circumstances. Honestly, donate my body to a group of necrophiliacs...I won't care...because I can't. Turn me into mulch, dog food, something, anything.

Hey! This is the first time I've seen you posting here! How's Dobbs?

Strange, but you already knew that. I'll remind him to post photos of the garden.

the only problem with the organ donor thing is that in some countries (like australia), that can be overridden by your next of kin, which makes it rather useless unless you convince them about it first

I think the way it works in Britain is that doctors won't use your organs if next of kin object. Doing it would just cause a media fuss and make future donations less likely.

Strange, but you already knew that. I'll remind him to post photos of the garden.

Hey I thought you'd gone to bed already. Must be another Jolt timewarp.

I'm an organ donor. To be honest, I honestly don't care if my organs go to a saintly person who's had bad luck when it comes to health or to an alcoholic whose addiction has destroyed their liver. Who knows. That saintly person's contribution to society might be feeding the homeless. The alcoholic might live and go on to develop important technology that saves millions of lives. I'd prefer that my organs don't go to someone who could be called outright evil (like, say, Hitler), but I generally prefer not to make judgements. It's not like I'll need my organs when I'm dead, anyway.

That seems rather silly if you yourself have already agreed to it. It would be like my future eldest son changing my will so he inherits everything.

In the UK the only way around it is to carry a document drawn up by a solicitor in place of a donation card stating that you don't wish your next of kin to be involved. Even then though i'm not sure how closely that would be followed by doctors not wishing to upset the family

I'd give my kidneys, possibly liver, but probably not my heart.

Why not your heart? I know a lot of people prefer to keep their eyes but not that many say heart

I'm torn between the idea of donating my body for medical education of for organ donation. I just love the idea of having the dashed line scissor guidelines tattoo'd on my body just before death to give a poor group of medical students a hand

I'm donating everything twice, apparently, as I have two cards. I think I just forgot I'd already signed up, so did it again. I've also told my mother that I'd try to donate her organs once she's dead...she didn't seem to object, although this was just after she told me the family can do what the hell they like with her body when she's dead.

I'm donating everything twice, apparently, as I have two cards. I think I just forgot I'd already signed up, so did it again. I've also told my mother that I'd try to donate her organs once she's dead...she didn't seem to object, although this was just after she told me the family can do what the hell they like with her body when she's dead.

I worked on the organ donation helpline last summer and there was a little old lady who called up wanting to donate her husbands organs because she was angry at him for some reason I wasn't quite sure of. I love her

Yes I am :)

Why not be?



:eek:

I ain't dead yet!
*Flees from the organ harvesters*

Yep, I'm on the register - but I might give my body to science (for the med students to practice on) or something. Depends on how mangled it is when it reaches the morgue I guess.

Also, I can't think of a reason why the register shouldn't be opt-out.

Maybe there is a reason why we have the technology to transplant organs and make the girl better. Natural Selection is not limited to just a single being, why do you think kindness is a strength?

Game theory.

*nods*

Natural selection is usually limited to the genetic level, group selection only works under quite restricted circumstances.

Anyone else think the world would be quite a bit better place if everyone were automatically listed as a donor and you had to opt out instead of the other way around? Isn't that the law in Belgium. I recall reading that somewhere....

I suppose I should sign up, it isn't like the doctors would ever not try their best to save me so they could get their hands on my sweet, sweet organs right? ;)

Isn't that the law in Belgium. I recall reading that somewhere....

It is in France

I've said they can everything but my eyes. There's just something too creepy about the idea of them cutting into the eyes of my corpse to give my corneas to someone else. Just seems wrong to have bits of your eyes wandering around looking at things when you're dead and buried.

I suppose I should sign up, it isn't like the doctors would ever not try their best to save me so they could get their hands on my sweet, sweet organs right? ;)

...*hides scalpel*

...*hides scalpel*

*thinks eye catches glint from metal*


*stifles paranoia*

No. At least, I don't think so. I've never signed up for having my organs donated, but I don't know how that even works where I live. For all I know they might take them anyway. Also, I'm really not comfortable letting people see my dead, naked body. And I'm worried there'll be something wrong with my organs, and that the seven-year-old girl that apparently gets all our organs will die of a mysterious disease soon after the transplantation.

I guess I'll just have to die somewhere where they'll never find my body.

Why not your heart? I know a lot of people prefer to keep their eyes but not that many say heart

Don't know really. Might change as I get older though...

I'm torn between the idea of donating my body for medical education of for organ donation.

Same here. I decided medical education got first pick, but if they do not want me my corpse can be stripped.

Same here. I decided medical education got first pick, but if they do not want me my corpse can be stripped.

Medical schools have a lot of trouble finding donors so I doubt they would ever turn you down

No. As an American I am legally bared from donating my blood, plasma, or organs for no other reason than because I'm gay. So no, I won't be donating my organs.

No. As an American I am legally bared from donating my blood, plasma, or organs for no other reason than because I'm gay. So no, I won't be donating my organs.

You could lie, I guess. :p I'm sure they screen blood and organs for disease no matter who gives it. Sounds like a holdover from the AIDS panic a while back.

You could lie, I guess. :p I'm sure they screen blood and organs for disease no matter who gives it. Sounds like a holdover from the AIDS panic a while back.

They just renewed the policy despite the fact it is no longer necessary.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory?id=3205445

"Before giving blood, all men are asked if they have had sex, even once, with another man since 1977. Those who say they have are permanently banned from donating. The FDA said those men are at increased risk of infection by HIV that can be transmitted to others by blood transfusion."

After all, everyone knows that only us gay folk get the HIV. :rolleyes:

Why should I lie? If my blood or organs aren't good enough for them, fuck 'em. I'm not going to go out of my way for people like that. If they'd rather let people die than allow me to donate, so be it.

http://gaylife.about.com/cs/abuseviolence/a/blooddonors.htm

"What if a terminally ill patient is in need of a specific blood type and there is a gay man willing to be a donor?

Due to the 1985 ban on gay blood donors, the patient in need would continue to wait for another suitable match, risking death. Unfortunately, the patient is not informed if a gay donor has been found and does not have the opportunity to decide if they are willing to accept the health risk. "

If you don't mind me asking, why not?


Well, natural selection for one thing. I also don't want my body being seen as nothing but something for harvesting once I die. I don't want my corpse to be desecrated. I want to be buried, intact and whole.

After all, everyone knows that only us gay folk get the HIV. :rolleyes:


Well, I can't really blame Congress for making that mistake in '85, but it certainly seems like a re-write is in order.

Anyone else think the world would be quite a bit better place if everyone were automatically listed as a donor and you had to opt out instead of the other way around?

I approve of this motion. I am not listed as a donor because I never filled out the little card.

I approve of this motion. I am not listed as a donor because I never filled out the little card.

If you're in the UK just call the Organ Donation phone line and they'll put you on the system. Its better than just carrying the donor card since it'll be kept on a database that can be checked by the doctors in the event you aren't carrying your card at the time they get to you

Anyone else think the world would be quite a bit better place if everyone were automatically listed as a donor and you had to opt out instead of the other way around?

No. What gives other people the right to decide what happens to your organs? People other than family, that is.

that totally sucks. Are there like people trying to change that or something? because I have never heard of that restriction.

You're also not allowed to donate if you're a woman who has had sex with a man who has had sex with a man (at least here)

No. What gives other people the right to decide what happens to your organs? People other than family, that is.

You have the right still but apathy doesn't stop people from donating

No. As an American I am legally bared from donating my blood, plasma, or organs for no other reason than because I'm gay. So no, I won't be donating my organs.

that totally sucks. Are there like people trying to change that or something? because I have never heard of that restriction.

You have the right still but apathy doesn't stop people from donating

THe government still doesn't have the right to automatically sign you up.

THe government still doesn't have the right to automatically sign you up.

Depends on your country

where is here?

and then I am double barred.....

the UK

I got barred because I skydive and need all that nice blood for jumps from certain heights

You're also not allowed to donate if you're a woman who has had sex with a man who has had sex with a man (at least here)

where is here?

and then I am double barred.....

Why should I lie? If my blood or organs aren't good enough for them, fuck 'em. I'm not going to go out of my way for people like that. If they'd rather let people die than allow me to donate, so be it.


Because just because you have governmental idiots doesn't mean you should stop patients from using your organs. I'm sure for the people whom it affects your sexuality won't matter.

Because just because you have governmental idiots doesn't mean you should stop patients from using your organs. I'm sure for the people whom it affects your sexuality won't matter.

That's probably true, but I might be equally insulted if I were basically declared unclean despite the fact that blood and organs are disease-checked by hospitals, I do believe.

Well, I can't really blame Congress for making that mistake in '85, but it certainly seems like a re-write is in order.

Indeed. But they reviewed the policy this year and decided to keep it as is.

that totally sucks. Are there like people trying to change that or something? because I have never heard of that restriction.

People have been fighting it for years. I seem to recall the the Red Cross has even called to have the ban repealed.

I've been doing a little digging today, and it seems that most other nations also ban gay men from donating. Even the Netherlands of all places (though they are in the process of repealing it).

Because just because you have governmental idiots doesn't mean you should stop patients from using your organs. I'm sure for the people whom it affects your sexuality won't matter.


Umm...I'm not the one stopping them. They're quite welcome to it. But I'm not going to lie about who I am just to make a bunch of homophobes feel better about where their blood is coming from.

Umm...I'm not the one stopping them. They're quite welcome to it. But I'm not going to lie about who I am just to make a bunch of homophobes feel better about where their blood is coming from.

I wasn't blaming you, I'm sory if it sounded like that. Although isn't it the doctors that control that and administration that are the homophobes? Why punish the patient who most likely doesn't care? You'd both be victims of the idiocy.