Save A Life : Carry A Donor Card (Organ removal and donation)

Member Name: nicola21

Product:	Organ removal and donation
Date:	04/04/01 (85 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Life

Disadvantages: The stigma of decisions

There is so much stigma attached to this subject especially now even more so due to the terrible goings-on at a particular hospital in this country. This is just my personal opinion. I don't expect people to agree or disagree, and I certainly don't intend to dictate my views to anyone else, but this is a summary of my beliefs and the reasons behind them.

In the event of my death, if my organs or vital parts, (be they heart, liver, kidneys, eyes), are in a suitable condition for surgical transferal to another living human being who is in desparate need of new organs or parts, they may have them with my blessing.

Whether the consequences of not having a transplant are certain death, or if a transplant will simply improve the quality of life for an individual, they are welcome to my parts. I will no longer need them. I would rather, if possible, they went to a good cause, than be buried with the rest of me to rot. It sounds harsh in writing, but that is what I believe.

There are so many people in great need of transplant operations, and hundreds if not thousands (I do not know the exact figures) die each year waiting for the help that never comes. If that were me, or if you think, yourself, wouldn't you be hoping that someone be kind enough to offer you a lifeline in the form of a transplant organ?

I know nothing specific about the religious implications on this subject. I am aware that certain religions do not allow such operations, and that is there own ideals. Just like those who choose not to be a donor in the event of their death, that is their choice, but you have to ask yourself the exact reasons as to why you oppose.

There is even more pressure around the subject of childrens' organs. It is an even more emotive issue, as the children are too young to have made their own decision, and the parents' job is difficult. As for doctors taking organs without permission to unknowing parents, this is
tragic and sad, and only bound to deter people's goodwill and kind hearts from donating for the right, life-saving reasons. But removal of organs for medical research is not the issue here, so I will not go into it, however the case of the Alder Hey hospital seems to have been central to an extremely unscrupulous surgeon who probably suffers from some kind of mental disorder or mental health problems, which sadly happens in all walks of life, allbeit worse in the case of a hospital.

In my opinion, I shall bring my children up to see things as I do on this matter. There is nothing wrong with realising that, if it ever does happen, we can save the lives of needing people by giving them our heart, kidneys and so on, because theirs' no longer function properly. I'm sure my children will see that if it did ever happen, which sadly it does from time to time for a range of different reasons, they could let another child live, by giving them their un-needed parts. I understood this concept when I was six years old and I remember learning all about it from my mother.

I understand that we do not own our childrens' bodies, but there are so many little kids out there who are in desparate need of organ donations. So many young lives could be saved, not at the expense of other children's deaths, as this sadly happens anyway, but becasue others give. Giving the gift of life in the event of our own deaths is possibly the most honourable thing anyone can do. It is the ultimate gift and we should be grateful that the medical technology exists to perform these life-saving operations. You never know if you may be on the receiving end of an organ donation one day. What if your children need a vital transplant one day? You never know.

In short, I know that if I died and my parts could help another person to live or improve their quality of life, I would be more than glad to help. Whether it be my eyes that are taken to give another less f
ortunate person sight for the rest of their life, or be it my heart that is transplanted to save an individual from certain death, they are welcome to whatever they need, and there are many people in need. Demand is higher than supply, and if I no longer need my parts, why should I take them with me and let another individual soon join me in death when I could have helped?

I would be proud that when I no longer need them, my eyes could give sight to a blind person, my liver could continue to function cleaning the blood in another individual in desparate need, and my heart beat on for years to come, giving the precious gift of life to someone who really needs it far more than I do in my grave.

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