A Big Problem with Organ Donation

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Courtneyjo

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heraldnet.com/stories/07/05/25/100wir_b10organs001.cfm

“SEATTLE - A judge has dismissed a lawsuit over the use of organ donor body parts for research and purposes other than transplantation, and officials say they plan to revise the state’s consent procedure as a result. …”

Organ donors in this state were unaware that their organs may end up in the hands of medical researchers. This has enormous implications. Imagine a woman donor’s ovaries being used for research…:eek:

Once you check the box on your drivers’ license, you have entered into a contract. If you change your mind, you cannot simply request that the box be unchecked. You must send a written request to the organ donation agency, receive written approval from them, present this written approval to the Department of Motor Vehicles, then pay for a new license.

This deserves wider publicity.
 
Wow! That is just so very wrong. I have not yet signed up for donor donation yet on my new license (name change due to marriage). But if that is the case in Michigan I may very well reconsider signing up for the very situation you suggest. :mad:

I’ll have to look into this further before I sign back up.

~Liza
 
As I understand it, in WA if you were a donor under your maiden name, you are still a donor. The DMV may not have the answer, you may have to contact the agency that coordinates organ donation for Michigan and get a written copy of their policy.
 
This begs another issue. Am I mistaken or is it morally wrong to allow reproductive organs to be taken for transplant? I had heard that we are not allowed to allow transplant our brains or gonads? Is this so, and if so is there a way to put this restriction in our donors’ agreements?

LT
 
Is it even possibe to transplant a brain? I have never heard of that. I never thought that reproductive orans would be transplanted. I thought it was only the organs that sustained the body like the blood, heart, marrow, liver, kidney, lung, etc.
 
Fidelia said:
Is it even possibe to transplant a brain? I have never heard of that. I never thought that reproductive orans would be transplanted. I thought it was only the organs that sustained the body like the blood, heart, marrow, liver, kidney, lung, etc.
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Yeah, you are right. It is rather sci-fi. I guess I was thinking in concept rather than practicality. Still, those organs are “special” and particularly unique and I want to safeguard their use (or misuse) to the fullest extent possible.

LT
 
Fidelia said:
donatelifeny.org/organ/l_legispass_2.html
This says the donor can say who why want to receive the organs, it seems. I don’t know how though.
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I decided to email them to find out, since i am curious myself. I checked the donor box when I got my license, and it says “organ donor” on it. I don’t want to not be a donor, but I would prefer live transplantation to research, i think. i will get back to you all and let you know if I get an answer. I have a donor card, though, that says “For the purpose of transplantation I give…” so maybe it’s only if they can’t transplant the organs, then they ask the family if they want to give to research?
 
There are so many people in need of organ transplants please be careful in the information you put out there.

Checking your driver’s license is just the first step in becoming a donor if the situation ever arises. No hospital I know of will harvest organs based on a driver’s license consent alone. It is simply an expression of desire to be donor. Family approval is still needed. The procurement team works very closely with family and staff so that everything is done according to the wishes of the patient and family.

No, brain transplant is not possible. And I have never, ever heard of harvesting ovaries in a stranger donation either. Organ donation is a good thing and save lives.
 
seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420ap_wa_organ_donors.html

“Smith died of a heart attack on May 21, 2003, less than two months after marking the organ donor consent form while renewing his driver’s license.”

“Within hours his mother was told that her son’s organs were unsuitable for live transplant.”

It appears that the family respected the son’s wishes.

‘“Our son’s organs were taken without his permission and without our permission…”’

The Court disagreed.

The Department of Licensing apparently was unfamiliar with this aspect of the organ donor law.

““All of us here at DOL were shocked to discover this ruling and how it effects potential organ donors,” Benfield said.”
 
transweb.org/reference/maps/opo_image_map/lcnwa.htm

"Mission Statement:

“To improve, with compassion, the quality of life for the greatest number of people by promoting organ and tissue donation and the benefits of transplantation.” "

The mission statement of the procurement organization does not limit the use of donations to transplantation.
 
all it takes to change your mind is to tell a family member not to donate your organs. the family can over rule any wishes that you have for organ donation regardless of your wishes. the driver’s licence only lets them know that you would like to donate, but is not legally binding for them to do so. i deal with this all the time at work. they don’t harvest reproductive organs.as far as organs being used for medical research…why not? how do you think we come up with cures for illnesses? yes, animal research is a viable option, but they are animals, not humans. what shows promise for an illness in them, may not hold the same cure rate for humans. i think it is a very selfless thing to donate organs so that others may live a more healthy life. JMHO
 
dale(name removed by moderator) said:
all it takes to change your mind is to tell a family member not to donate your organs. the family can over rule any wishes that you have for organ donation regardless of your wishes. the driver’s licence only lets them know that you would like to donate, but is not legally binding for them to do so. i deal with this all the time at work. they don’t harvest reproductive organs.as far as organs being used for medical research…why not? how do you think we come up with cures for illnesses? yes, animal research is a viable option, but they are animals, not humans. what shows promise for an illness in them, may not hold the same cure rate for humans. i think it is a very selfless thing to donate organs so that others may live a more healthy life. JMHO
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Thank you. 🙂
Our licenses also have boxes to check on which organs you would like to donate.
 
dale(name removed by moderator) said:
all it takes to change your mind is to tell a family member not to donate your organs. the family can over rule any wishes that you have for organ donation regardless of your wishes. the driver’s licence only lets them know that you would like to donate, but is not legally binding for them to do so. i deal with this all the time at work. they don’t harvest reproductive organs.as far as organs being used for medical research…why not? how do you think we come up with cures for illnesses? yes, animal research is a viable option, but they are animals, not humans. what shows promise for an illness in them, may not hold the same cure rate for humans. i think it is a very selfless thing to donate organs so that others may live a more healthy life. JMHO
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I agree that it is a very selfless thing. However, folks should be aware that they need to inform themselves. The man’s parents abided by his wishes, thinking that his organs would be used for transplantation, not experimentation. I think that more than a few people in my state who have the noble intent of being organ donors for transplant patients would balk at their organs being used for anything else. IMHO.
 
Courtneyjo said:
I agree that it is a very selfless thing. However, folks should be aware that they need to inform themselves. The man’s parents abided by his wishes, thinking that his organs would be used for transplantation, not experimentation. I think that more than a few people in my state who have the noble intent of being organ donors for transplant patients would balk at their organs being used for anything else. IMHO.
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Good Lord do you know how many people who die waiting for a transplant? There aren’t even close to enough available, you really think there just going to send it off to the lab to experiment on?
 
rayne89 said:
Good Lord do you know how many people who die waiting for a transplant? There aren’t even close to enough available, you really think there just going to send it off to the lab to experiment on?
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The most likely only send them to research facilities if they cannot be transpanted for some reason, like age or cancer or something.
 
CCM08 said:
Another reason I’m not an organ donor…
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I’m sorry you feel that way. One less person that could save my life or the lives of many. I hate these threads. There’s all this fear mongering scaring people away from organ donation -like it is some Frankenstein science or something. People die everyday waiting for a transplant. Young mothers and fathers, children and people with families who need them. Most people would risk their lives to save a drowning person yet they won’t even consider donating their organs upon death that could save the lives of many. I thought Catholics were supposed to be pro-life.😦
 
rayne89 said:
I’m sorry you feel that way. One less person that could save my life or the lives of many. I hate these threads. There’s all this fear mongering scaring people away from organ donation -like it is some Frankenstein science or something. People die everyday waiting for a transplant. Young mothers and fathers, children and people with families who need them. Most people would risk their lives to save a drowning person yet they won’t even consider donating their organs upon death that could save the lives of many. I thought Catholics were supposed to be pro-life.😦
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exactly.
 
Courtneyjo said:
Organ donors in this state were unaware that their organs may end up in the hands of medical researchers. This has enormous implications. Imagine a woman donor’s ovaries being used for research…:eek:
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With so many people waiting for organs, I think it is a shame that people fear-monger.

As far as organs being used for research, how do you think medical science has gotten to where it is today? Heart attack? Stroke? Cancer? Thank people who have donated their bodies for the monumental treatment programs we have today. Besides, it’s not like we NEED our body after we die!

My father has specifically specified that his entire body is to be donated for medical research after he dies. I think that is quite admirable. I myself am an organ donor. I won’t be needing any parts!
 
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