We Want Your Vital Organs!

[PinkoLeftie]

Today is World Organ Donation Awareness Day.
Friends and members of the IKA will be out and about today trying to raise awareness of the importance of organ donation, distributing multi-organ donor cards and answering questions.

The only aim today will not be to raise money for the IKA but to raise awareness. As I like to say, "we don't want you money.. just your vital organs!"

There is a lot of misinformation and myth around organ donation. Sadly, I have noticed that this leads to people refusing to "carry the card". I, or any other member of the IKA, are always happy to take questions and give information so as to dispel these myths. The "Gift of Life" card also comes with a highly informative fact sheet. If you have one, please read it.

I myself was fortunate to recieve a kidney donation 4 years ago, and I've never looked back since. The kindness of the donor and his/her family made an enormous difference to my life, the life of the other kidney recipient and our families.

[agora]

There is a lot of misinformation and myth around organ donation. Sadly, I have noticed that this leads to people refusing to "carry the card".

Yes, Monty Python have a lot to answer for.....

[JCSkinner]

There is a lot of misinformation and myth around organ donation. Sadly, I have noticed that this leads to people refusing to "carry the card".

Yes, Monty Python have a lot to answer for.....

You're frankly an idiot, agora. This is not a joking matter. There are hundreds of sick people on transplant waiting lists and on dialysis in desperate need of a life-saving organ. Do you fancy dropping around to your local renal unit to crack a few gags about the issue? Didn't think so.
Everyone should carry a donor card, at the very least until the day and hour when we finally introduce transplant legislation and begin an effective live transplant programme.
Carry the card, people. Tell your relatives that you wish to give the gift of life to others when you have passed on. There is no other defensible position on this issue that is not based on misguided religious beliefs.

[agora]

That was perhaps in bad taste. My apologies

[JCSkinner]

No apology required. One of your kidneys however...
In fairness, I cannot think of any reason why people should not carry the organ donor card. I urge everyone to think about what lengths they would go to if it was their child, their lover, their best friend dying prematurely with little quality of life because they needed an organ.
You may feel very attached to them, but your heart, lungs, liver, kidneys and corneas are no use to you when you're pushing daisies. Pass them on.

[stringjack]

Could anyone tell me, in the absence of carrying a card such as this, under Irish law, do the next of kin have the authority to donate the organs?

[Risteard]

Could anyone tell me, in the absence of carrying a card such as this, under [Free State "law"], do the next of kin have the authority to donate the organs?

I would certainly hope they don't. If one decides they want to keep their organs, then it's not really for one's next of kin to decide otherwise.

[agora]

Could anyone tell me, in the absence of carrying a card such as this, under [Free State "law"], do the next of kin have the authority to donate the organs?

I would certainly hope they don't. If one decides they want to keep their organs, then it's not really for one's next of kin to decide otherwise.

I think he means that if the person in question hasn't stated a position on the matter or acquired a card. Obviously if it's the stated wish of the person that they didn't want their organs removed it would be wrong of the next of kin to do so (not sure about actually illegal).

[JCSkinner]

As transplantation in Ireland is performed under bodysnatching legislation from the 1800s, there is no "law" on this issue.
In certain cases, transplant co-ordinators will approach families of, for example, car crash victims and sound them out on the issue. Current practice is not to harvest the organs if the family does not wish it, even IF the deceased was carrying a donor card.
This is why it is so important to tell your relatives that you wish to donate your organs after death.

[PinkoLeftie]

Current practice is not to harvest the organs if the family does not wish it, even IF the deceased was carrying a donor card.
This is why it is so important to tell your relatives that you wish to donate your organs after death.

Unfortunatly that is the case.

Remember, carrying the card is really only symbolic. (I personally don't carry one). The important thing is to convey your wishes to your family and loved ones. Utimately it is their descision.

By discussing this with your family you can also find out whether they want their organs/tissue donated.