THEY ARE NO GOOD TO YOU IF YOU’RE DEAD (Organ removal and donation)

Member Name: jingles

Product:	Organ removal and donation
Date:	03/09/01 (75 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: LIVES ARE SAVED

Disadvantages: SCANDALS HAVE BLACKENED THE NAME OF SUCH A GOOD CAUSE

My father has benefited from the death of someone. It’s a cold hard fact, but true. He was on kidney dialysis for years, and also on a national register, and when an available kidney became available he was taken to the City Hospital in Belfast for the transplant operation. We do not know who has lengthened my dad’s life, we do not know what part of the country they are from, if they are black or white, Protestant or Catholic or man or woman. All we know is that although they may have died whether through natural causes or tragically it was not in vane because now my dad has a better quality of life – thank you who ever you are.

Recently organ removal has hit the headlines but for all the wrong reasons, scandals have been emerging on our TV screens and in the newspapers. Hospitals such as Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool being one involved with organ removal without parental consent. Indeed even here in Northern Ireland renowned hospitals such as the Royal Victoria and The Ulster Hospital have had scandals emerge. Whilst this perhaps should be investigated properly and public inquiries carried out – is the removal with out parental/family consent such a wrong move? As my title says – what good are they to you – you are dead. I know the grieving families should be shown the utmost consideration, l still think organ removal after death should be par for the course – unless specifically stated by the dead person prior to death. I do not intend to offend anyone with this view – it’s my personal viewpoint.

Perhaps this opinion is all the more poignant today due to the sad news reported yesterday 2nd September 2001, that Christian Barnaard, the pioneering heart transplant surgeon died. Due to his hard work and dedication to his specialist field people lives were saved who would otherwise have died.

Donor cards can be carried and there is also a section at the back o
f your driving licence where you can confirm your willingness to donate your organs on death. Organs include:
 Corneas
 Heart
 Liver
 Kidneys
 Pancreas
 Lungs

This is something l personally would advise every living healthy person in the United Kingdom to do – you could help save lives.

An old headmaster of my primary school did the ultimate donation on his death – he donated his body to medical science. Your body is taken and various parts are used for medical experimentation and medical research. Bodies are also used for trainee doctors and similar to learn from. A friend of mine experienced this first hand during her Bio-Medical degree, where she worked on the same body for a term – and indeed became quite attached to “George”. After the end of a period of time the body is returned to its family for burial.

At present in the United Kingdom, we follow an opting in scheme, that is the donor card system – but is this really good enough. What about following an opting out system in that should you for whatever medical, religious or ethical reasons do not wish to donate your organs then you most inform the relevant authorities of your wishes. At present even if you do carry the card grieving relatives can over-ride your wishes and deny you the chance of organ donation.

Take it from one who has witnessed the benefits of organ donation, carrying the card, and making your wishes clear to your nearest and dearest can improve the quality of others lives and ultimately save them from premature death.

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