You Want Me To Be A Donor? Shiiiiiiish (Organ Donor Register)

Member Name: jillmurphy

Product:	Organ Donor Register
Date:	09/05/02 (182 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Pah.

Disadvantages: Bah. (Sorry!)

Conor doesn't like my Organ Donor Card. It upsets him. Every time he sees it he worries and asks in a worried little voice those worried little questions children ask. "How old are you again, Mummy?" "Who will die first, Mummy, you or Daddy?" "They really do wait until you're dead before they cut out your heart, don't they Mummy?" Kieran doesn't really know what an Organ Donor Card is yet, but when he does I don't think he'll like it much either. In times of stress and worry his major concern is that as he's the youngest Michael, Conor and I will all die before him, leaving him all alone. Timescales don't mean much when you're six and five. Timescales though, can mean an awful lot when you're waiting for an organ transplant. Let me ask you some questions taken from the NHS Organ Donor Register website.

Did you know that over 5,000 in people in the UK are waiting for an organ transplant that will either save or dramatically improve their lives?

Did you know that Asian people are three or four times more likely than white people to suffer from diabetes or heart disease and to need a transplant operation?

Did you know that black people are three times as likely as white people to need a kidney transplant, yet only 1% of organ donors are black?

Did you know that the better the tissue match, the better the chances are for a successful transplant operation (Asian and black people's tissue will match better with fellow Asian and black people's tissue)?

Did you know that because of this black people should be over-represented as donors, but in fact they're under-represented?

Did you know that for the 5,000 people in the queue, only 3,000 transplant operations are carried out in the UK each year?

Pause for thought, eh?

The National Organ Donor Register is a centralized database where all potential donors up and do
wn the country can leave a record of their wishes. You can add your name to the list by going to the website or filling out the form on the leaflet. I've left details at the end of this opinion. Sadly, at the moment, it can only be a record of your wishes. Your next of kin can still refuse permission for organ donation after you've died, and they'll still be subjected to the distressing rigmarole of signing consent forms and discussing what will happen at the most awful of times. But still, it's a start. Hop over to the website now and take a look. It won't take you long because it's a clear, fast, simple site but it contains all the information you'll need.

Under "The Facts" you'll find easy clear explanations of the organ donation system and of the transplant operation programs, under "Success Stories" you'll really begin to see the good they do as you read about some real transplant patients. If you'd like to know even more about how vital to quality of life and to life itself transplant operations are then take a look under "What Organs Do". "What every black person should know" and "Asian Communities" explain the specific and desperate need for donors from those sections of our community. If you decide that you'd like to be an organ donor then it's vital you let your family and friends know of your wishes. This isn't always an easy subject to broach and under "Family and Friends" you'll find the legal permission reasons for how important it is for you to explain your wishes to those who need to know, there's also the option of sending an email and a link to the site if a conversation is beyond you. Do let those closest to you know what you want though; it may save them a terribly distressing decision one day.

But by far the most important part of the site is the online registration form. It's easy peasy to fill out and it
won't take you more than five minutes of your time. Be prepared for several pages though, with just a few details on each. I'd imagine they've designed so that it takes slightly longer than necessary just to make sure that you don't make any silly errors and also give you plenty of time to think about what you're doing. It's a big decision, after all. But it's clear and simple and the pages load quickly. Your details won't be shared with anyone, but they will be there if they are ever needed. Via the same form you can send a link to the site to family and friends or you can remove yourself from the list if your feelings ever change. I hope you register though, and I hope your feelings don't ever change.

I think perhaps the NHS Organ Donor Register can be summed up best by a little quote from its website:

"If you are prepared to consider accepting a transplant for yourself or your family, it seems only fair to play your part by being willing to be a donor."

That's what I think too.

Oh you know, as far as I'm concerned any and every suitable part of my body is available for donation. I don't much care what happens to it when I'm not in it any more. Perhaps that little man currently exhibiting in Brick Lane would like to pose it in an acrobatic, athletic pose it most certainly never knew while it lived and breathed. Or if the Ebay auction fails to reach its reserve price then you can put me in an orange crate and float me down the river for all I care. Sorry to the more squeamish of you: of course I'm being flippant. I do care. I care now. I prefer not to think of my own dead body too much. But I know I won't be caring about what happens to it if the day ever comes when organ donation is a possibility. I do care now though. I'd like that list of 5,000 people, people living with disability, or in pain, or in fear that they'll die in that gruesome queue, to
be a thing of the past. I'd like for that heart patient to be able to walk up a flight of stairs without getting breathless, for that eye patient to be able to read a book or watch a film again, for that kidney patient to be spared the exigencies of life on dialysis. Wouldn't you?

I think the NHS Organ Donor Register is a wonderful idea. Who knows what's going to happen tomorrow? Who knows if your Organ Donor card is going to be in your other purse or wallet should the worst thing happen? And if you're little like Conor, or a bit squeamish like me, who wants to look at something that reminds you of your mortality every time you go to get out your credit or debit card? I've signed up to the register online now, I've told my family and my friends what I'd like to happen to my organs and they've promised to do as I wish, so I don't need to carry the card any more. I hope nothing awful ever happens to me but I feel slightly better about my own mortality now I know it won't be a complete waste.

I'd like to see the register go one step further. I'd like it to be something that relatives, no matter how sincere in their beliefs and judgements, had no power to alter. I'd like to see my entry, perhaps after advice and rubber-stamping from someone in authority, my GP for example, made certain. I'd like to take away from doctors and nurses and grieving relatives those dreadful conversations: "Have you considered organ donation? Your husband's/wife's/son's/daughter's name was on the National Register." And anyway, I think it's my decision and my decision alone. I've made my decision. Isn't it time you made yours?

To register online go to http://www.nhsorgandonor.net

For more information or copies of the relevant leaflets call 0845 60 40 400

Or write in for a registration form to

The NHS Organ Donor Register
PO Box 14
FREEPOST

Patchway
Bristol BS34 8ZZ

What are you waiting for?

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