I'm still using my organs right now, thank you very much.. and when I die... someone is more than welcome to them... but it's my choice... I made the conscious decision to give my organs...

SInce you're so concerned about saving lives, I'm guessing that you'll be donating blood or platelets, or signing up for the bone marrow registry tomorrow? :D That's being proactive in saving lives...

I don't think its the majority of the cases that would come up that make people object to this policy. It's going to be the person without identification, whose family didn't know was dead until after the body has been harvested. Or some bastard who clones Scarlett Johannson, and then in a horribly retarded plot twist decides that instead of staring at her all day, he's going to declare her not really alive by virtue of clone, and then harvest her organs.

In Virginia, your estate becomes property of the commonwealth to be disposed of as directed. If you leave no direction (i.e. you have no will) they can do pretty much whatever they want with it. I don't know of any cases where they <i>haven't</i> left the disposition of the estate up to surviving family if an obvious choice is available, but don't assume it's the "default" just because tha's the way the law has set it up in your neck of the woods.

The problem I have with this is some admin-type in a county hospital looking at a report that the 20-something-car-accident-victim-who-was-previously-in-ideal-health has excellent chances of recovery if they try Procedure X.. but rather than saving this person's life, sells the patient for scrap so they can upgrade the NMRI machine. So sad.

As long as my family was paid for the organ harvests I have no problem with it. I think that my dead body is the property of my living family, and if they could make money by selling me to the circus so they could put me in a big vat of formaldehyde for everyone to make fun of and laugh at I give them permission.

Why would you choose to let someone die if all you had to do was give them something you dont need?

I'm tempted to ramble about the "theys" and physical resources, that transplants aren't independent of the rest of healthcare's shortages which aren't scaling well anyway... but I like your optimism. Maybe with more people thinking about how things should be rather than how it is we might make a difference.

In the meantime, everyone should spend a vacation volunteering in healthcare. Get to know it outside the media. Prepare for family and yourself. (Make use of your organs before they're removed? ;) )

Some here suggested moving further, to mandatory donor status. Hence the "opt-out or forced" summary. Didn't mean to rile.

I still beleive it's an extreme measure and overkill, and I'm against taking decisions away, but after more thought I'm willing to let people stir up the healthcare mud. Visibility and big kicks may force change where small ones cannot.

bone marrow registry? Mal? Info!!

Opt-out makes it much easier to disregard the wishes of the person involved.

Although I have not worked in an ER, I feel safe in saying that a lot of people arrive unaccompanied, without their driver's license.

Under opt-out, those people are automatic donors, no matter what their wishes are.

Some have expressed amazement that anyone wouldn't be a donor. I'm amazed at the number of people who would dictate what is to be done with the bodies of others.

I find it amazing the number of people who would complain it's against their rights as americans to become donors by default when they are neglecting their duty as a human being by not donating.

It's give and take people. People take, take, take and when it's time to give you step back and say Fuck that, I object!

Donating is a choice... I am under no legal obligation to donate blood, to write a check to the charity of my choice, to give a back of unused items to Goodwill, it's my choice... I willingly choose that on a regular basis.

When the state says that I have to do something... that takes away my choice.

I'll say it one more time for the cheap seats... I am an organ donor, I've given gallons of blood, I've donated bone marrow... twice (after knowing how much it hurt the first time)... I would give a kidney to pretty much anyone... It's my choice though... I don't want that choice taken.

^^ Yep, ditto. (except the bone marrow thing, wow!)

My thoughts on process, Candian or American:

1. Continue to have donation be Opt IN, spend the money on advertising etc to promote awareness, put it with the license renewal stuff, etc.
2. Also advertise that if you are not Opting In AND you could (i.e. no health issues), you do not get to receive organs either in case of emergency.

:D

Yes, about once a month. No, I dont donate bone marrow, when I was in the Navy it was not allowed, and I'm applying to the Fire Dept. and the Army atm, and neither want my hips or leg bones in any way shape or form weakened... even if its temporary.

Your philosophy is very widespread, at least in Islamic countries, where certain people stipulate what everyone else's "duty" is.

That should be embossed on every tax form in this country. And over the entrance to Congress.

I personally think they should pass this. Who cares if your organs are being taken, they're going to hopefully save someone's life. Plus your dead ne ways.