After reading the comments on the post I shared yesterday (World Organ Donation Day: Are you registered as an organ donor? Are you SURE?), I thought I’d do a follow-up for those of you who might have missed a key point that was made by some of my readers.
When it comes to the issue of organ donation,
talk to your family about your wishes!
See, I was under the impression that giving consent and being registered with your regional organization was all you needed to do to become an organ donor; however, after some further investigation triggered by those post comments I discovered that this is NOT enough! The next step is to make sure that your family members are aware of your wishes… because, depending on the rules or procedures followed in your region, the final decision as to whether or not you will be an organ donor may ultimately be left up to them.
Did you know this? I didn’t.
Honestly, I can’t say that I particularly like it – or even understand it, quite frankly. The choice as to whether (or not) to be an organ donor should be made by the person in possession of the organs to be (or not to be) donated, shouldn’t it? And one’s decision should be respected regardless of whether or not the family agrees, no?
To say that this issue gets under my skin is a bit of an understatement, actually!
But whether or not I like it, or think it’s fair, that’s apparently the way it is – which makes having that talk with your family all the more important. So that’s what I did today: I talked to each of the members of my immediate family – husband, parents, and sister – and made sure that they’re aware of my wish to be an organ donor.
Now I encourage you to do the same. Hopefully your family will be as supportive of your decision as my family is of mine!
Have you talked to your family about your wishes?
Please share!
Great posts and information, Laurel.
I agree with you; family’s ability to override your written consent is absurd.
Nevertheless you, I and lots of others have done what we can to help should it ever be possible.
Sammy D recently posted… Pay-per-View? No, Pay-per-Vote
Twitter: alphabetsalad
August 21, 2014
You’re right, Sammy! I will remember that.
Laurel Regan recently posted… Organ Donation Part 2: Talk to your family!
Twitter: shyvish
August 21, 2014
Yes, that’s the case, I hear. My aunt was keen to donate her eyes but since she died of multiple infections, they couldn’t use them. I think that really hurt my uncle.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
August 21, 2014
Oh, that’s a shame. I’m sorry. 🙁
Laurel Regan recently posted… Organ Donation Part 2: Talk to your family!
Twitter: rm29303
August 21, 2014
I agree this is stupid why go to the trouble of filling this out if it’s up to your family. My husband and I have been having this argument for years. I want my organs donated and then cremated he says no way. Hence the argument.
Rena McDaniel recently posted… I FOUND MY ALZHEIMER’S VOICE!
Twitter: alphabetsalad
August 21, 2014
Oh dear. I hope you can come to an agreement. 🙁
Laurel Regan recently posted… Organ Donation Part 2: Talk to your family!
I remember when my dad died, he was on life support…and we had them shut the machines off. It is what he would have wanted as there was no hope. He had barely breathed his last when a nurse approached me and asked if we wanted to donate his organs, skin, eyeballs. I was completely taken aback. I told the nurse that he wasn’t an organ donor. It is not what he wanted…and she persisted saying that ultimately it was up to my sister and I. I said absolutely not. If he didn’t want it himself, it wasn’t up to us to go against his wishes.
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Twitter: alphabetsalad
August 21, 2014
Good for you for going with what you knew he wanted, in spite of the pressure.
Laurel Regan recently posted… Organ Donation Part 2: Talk to your family!
Twitter: nabanita21
August 22, 2014
I think in my country the awareness is missing and writing about it could bring it to the forefront and then ofcousre discussing it with the family
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Twitter: alphabetsalad
August 22, 2014
I hope it does! Such an important issue.
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Twitter: obsessivemom06
August 22, 2014
Thanks for that information Laurel. And no, I didn’t know that. Quite unfair, but that’s the way it is I guess.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
August 22, 2014
You’re welcome! I agree – it really does seem unfair. 🙁
Laurel Regan recently posted… Photo Friday: Architecture
It’s in my will that I prepared with my husband 🙂
Twitter: alphabetsalad
August 22, 2014
Excellent. 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… Photo Friday: Architecture
I wasn’t aware of that at all.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
August 22, 2014
Yes, it definitely took me by surprise!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Photo Friday: Architecture
I think it sucks…because even when you explain it doesn’t actually mean at the time they will be capable of making any decisions about it because of their state of mind…I just think if you agree to it that is where it should end…being your decision
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Twitter: alphabetsalad
August 22, 2014
I totally agree! To me it seems like you’re doing your loved ones a favour by making the decision ahead of time – taking one thing off their plate at a difficult time.
Laurel Regan recently posted… Photo Friday: Architecture
Major important post, Laurel. I believe in organ donation and have had a donor’s card in my wallet for over 25 years. I agree, this is one of the difficult conversations we need to have with our families to make our wishes clear. Another is life support. A third is the care we want when we are unable to care for ourselves. Like everything in Life the more we talk about the real issues the easier it is to deal with them. THANKS for creating awareness. HUGS <3
Twitter: alphabetsalad
August 22, 2014
There are just so many difficult discussions, aren’t there? But they’re all so important and we need to get past being squeamish about them and have those conversations.
Laurel Regan recently posted… Photo Friday: Architecture
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