Why aren't you an organ donor? What beliefs or concerns keep you from deciding to donate if you are ever in a position to do so?
I am curious about the reasons other people are not.
Based on responses to someones else's question, I am concerned that some people's reasons are based on myths or misunderstandings rather than the facts about the process.
Also, I have heard that some religious beliefs about the after-life do not allow for organ donation, but I am not very familiar with these and would like to know more.
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M$7 Answers
Myth - If I donate my organs, my doctor or the emergency room staff won't work as hard to save my life. They'll remove my organs as soon as possible.
# in reality The doctor in charge of your care has nothing to do with transplantation.
Myth - Maybe I won't really be dead when they sign my death certificate. It'll be too late for me if they've taken my organs for transplantation. I might have otherwise recovered.
# In fact, people who have agreed to organ donation are given more tests to determine that they are truly dead than are those who haven't agreed to organ donation.
Myth - Organ donation is against my religion.
# In Reality. Organ donation is consistent with the beliefs of most religions. This includes Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam and most branches of Judaism.
Myth - I want my loved one to have an open-casket funeral. That can't happen if his or her organs or tissues have been donated.
# In Reality. Organ and tissue donation doesn't interfere with having an open-casket funeral.
Myth - I'm too old to donate. Nobody would want my organs.
# In Reality. There's no defined cutoff age for donating organs.
Myth - I'm not in the greatest health, and my eyesight is poor. Nobody would want my organs or tissues.
# In Reality. Very few medical conditions automatically disqualify you from donating organs. The decision to use an organ is based on strict medical criteria.
Myth - I would like to donate one of my kidneys now, rather than wait until my death. But I hear you can't do that unless you're a close family member of someone in need.
# In Reality. While that used to be the case, it isn't any longer. Whether it's a distant family member, friend or complete stranger you want to help, you can donate a kidney through certain transplant centers.
Myth - Rich, famous and powerful people always seem to move to the front of the line when they need a donor organ. There's no way to ensure that my organs will go to those who've waited the longest or are the neediest.
# In Reality. The rich and famous aren't given priority when it comes to allocating organs.
Myth - My family will be charged if I donate my organs.
# In Reality. The organ donor's family is never charged for donating.
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M$I should forewarn you all before reading my answer, that my reasons somewhat conflict with each other, which is why I remain undecided.
1. Given the fact that modern science has proven that each cell in the body communicates with other cells, and those cells have memory, etc., it's just a little CREEPY to think that you could have (and some transplant recipients have had) other people's memories . . . and that's just kind of a little bit sort of, what's the word? Creepy.
http://www.scienceray.com/Philosophy-of-Science/A-Medical-Mystery-Transferred-Organ-Donor-Consciousness.265099
2. I have gone over the moral/religious dilemma many times, and still come to the same conclusion: If you're going to base ANYTHING on what the Bible says, you must remember the Bible also says these things:
a. What is sin to one person is not necessarily a sin to another person.
b. Christ healed and raised the dead, yet He said we can perform even greater miracles than He who came before us.
c. That which you do, do it for God. That which you abstain from, abstain from it for God.
I other words, you can't really use the Bible to justify NOT doing it, because which is a greater miracle - a woman's arm is lame, and once "healed" it works? Or, a woman has no arms, but because she received two donor transplanted arms, she can now feed herself without assistance? I think we are at a point where we can now perform greater miracles than He, but the questionable technology that is used in the name of "medical research" and "science", well - sometimes that just plain SCARES people.
3. If I was to look at it from the other side of the fence, if I needed a transplant, would I take it?
a. Even though I should be coming to a conclusion BEFORE I have need of a transplant, but I have not.
b. If I did not NEED the body part in order to sustain my life, then no.
c. If I DID need the body part to have life - I don't know. At this point, since I have no written directive stating otherwise, I guess if I wound up in the hospital needing an immediate transplant - I may wake up finding myself having new added features, right?
I'm not quite sure if I OVER answered the question, but that's definitely a pretty good sum-up of my truthful answer. Since I'm not a donor, and I'm a little self-absorbed sometimes, I naturally assumed you were asking me. :)
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M$
@nushka - Clearly, you misunderstood, Fact is not Refuted. (Please re-read my answer if this comment causes confusion.)
I said that it is a proven scientific fact that cells communicate with one another, which IS actually a proven fact. (I also mentioned that it would be creepy to think that you "could have" memories - NOT that transplant memory is scientifically proven!)
Cell communication IS scientifically proven, the links to back this up are seemingly endless, but here are a few:
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/Lessons.cfm?DocID=65
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/11/051115090041.htm
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/cells/fight_flight/
http://groups.csail.mit.edu/mac/projects/amorphous/6.978/final-papers/brun-final.pdf
What would be considered "science"?
http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/science-definition.html
Also, the link I submitted with my original answer does in fact list reasons OTHER than cell memory as to why transplant patients could have these "memories" or experiences, just as you suggest that other reasons could exist.
I do not "have concerns regarding organ transplants", and the "website of pseudo-science" was relevant to both cell memory, AND the creepy possibilities, and provided 12 examples of transplant recipients having very interesting experiences mirroring that of their donors. I included the link in my answer because it exemplified my point, and WAS NOT intended to serve as advice for those who "have concerns regarding organ transplants", nor the "trustworthy source" from which to derive one's moral standards. (Nor did I imply that one should.) That was not the question. The question was whether or not I am a donor, and if not, why. I believe that my answer sufficiently answers whether or not I am, and why, with a reference to a website that describes one of my hesitations in becoming a donor.
@icechristine
I hadn't actually considered someone else having MY memories until you asked! Wow, no - I think that person should be more creeped out than me! I'm used to myself, but for someone else - that could be shocking!
I really appreciate your soul-baring answer to my question. These are just the kinds of things I wanted to hear from people.
I am curious, though, about your concern #1--the transplanted memory thing. Is it "creepy" for you that someone else might be having a few of your memories? Or are you concerned that the transplant recipient might be creeped out by having them? Because I'm guessing most folks waiting on long waiting lists for transplants wouldn't mind getting a few stray memories with their new kidney in exchange for years of life free of dialysis.
I'd love a little more feedback from you or others about this moral angle to their objections. I myself can't think of moral reasons not to donate, but I always like to understand where people are coming from even if I don't happen to agree.
As for #3, I can reassure you that the chances of you having an accident and waking up with new added features you didn't expect are very, VERY slim. If you have let your family know that you would not like to receive transplanted organs then the chances are zero, because they would have to give consent.
Thanks again for your honest answer!
The source is hardly scientific. There is no real scientific data that would back this up. Transplanted patients may suffer a change of personality for many different reasons. One of them is the pharmacological treatment they receive after the transplant. Another could be the feeling of having a second chance in life, this is purely psychological.
If you have concerns regarding organ transplants, turn to a trustworthy source, not a website of pseudo-science. These people publish stuff to atract people to read it, they are not commited to deliver real information.
You are still entitled to your opinion because it is your body (and your choice).
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M$
Thanks for answering. Actually this is one of those myths I was referring to.
My short reply is this: If you sign up to be an organ donor and they determine that you are not a candidate when it comes up, no big deal. But if you are not an organ donor and you have organs that could have helped someone in desperate need, what a shame.
Your organs are not necessarily worn out just because of your age. I was recently surprised when I had a patient in his 80's who was not disqualified for donation on the basis of age alone.
Also, there are organs you might not be considering, such as skin and corneas, which are quite possibly in fine shape for someone else in desperate need. They screen and do tests to determine if your organs are fit to be transplanted. And some donations, such as skin, are not permanent transplants; they are temporary until the patient receiving them can grow his own donor skin.
So please consider signing up to be an organ donor and know that if it ever comes up, you might be able to save someone's life even though you feel your organs are worn out.
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M$
I can't answer with confidence, but I'm guessing you could at least donate some tissue, like possibly skin. It doesn't hurt to sign up as a donor. I feel confident that the donation folks would much rather have a willing donor be determined ineligible due to a medical condition instead of someone who could have donated but assumed they couldn't.
Thanks for answering!
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M$They, in turn pay for my wake or donate the money to the funeral home, cremate my body, and return the ashes afterward. This greatly reduces the pressure and cost on the family.
the service is "Genesis"
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M$
so are you one?
@pomf If you read her question, you'd see she wasn't assuming people weren't. She was trying to enlighten herself on other belief systems. Your answer isn't an appropriate to this question.
I just wanted to say I wasn't offended by your answer, pomf (hey I think I answered one of your questions the other day--small e-world!). It may not have been helpful to many folks but I assumed it was at least partly tongue in cheek.
Thanks for your answer. You definitely hit many of the myths I was referring to.
Awesome answer, very myth-busting! Thanks!