Wednesday, 07 October 2009
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An Organ for an Organ?
My previous post on organ donation made the front page. I was reading the comments and one of them really struck me as; for lack of a better word; different.
According to the person, there is an organization committed to convincing people to specify that they only want their organs to go to others that are already listed as organ donors.
Giving organs first to organ donors will convince more people to register as organ donors. It will also make the organ allocation system fairer. People who aren't willing to share the gift of life should go to the back of the waiting list as long as there is a shortage of organs.
Okay, I get the idea behind it, but it just doesn't sit well with me. I asked kidzandk9z her thoughts and I sense that much like me, she got the idea, but was a bit uncomfortable with the premise. Misty has first hand experience with organ donation and I value her opinion. If I misstated her feelings, I beg her to let me know.
My first question is; what if it were a two year needing a heart transplant? We should punish an innocent child because the parent is not an organ donor? What if it is a teenager that is unaware of the importance of organ donation? Would it not be better to educate rather than punish?
It is my understanding that those on the top of the list are the most critical of patients. I also understand that once an organ is harvested time is of the essence. Do we really want to waste valuable time trying to determine if this person is "worthy" of the organs and risk losing the organs completely?
Look, I am not making light of this situation. I understand that there is a huge deficit between those donating organs to those waiting on organs. I think that this is horrible. However, I do not see my organ donation as anything other than the ability to allow another person to go on when my life is over.
I don't think that this "you can have mine only if you designate yours" is going to change things. Education and awareness are what is needed. An understanding that no doctor is going to not save a person simply because they have an organ donor sticker on their license. If you took just a moment and thought about your last hospital visit; did you ever even show your license to anyone other than the woman seeking out insurance information? In an emergency situation where ones identity needs to be determined; I can promise you that the doctor taking care of you is not going to have time to read your license. He or she will be far too busy trying to save your life.
I am an organ donor. I am disgusted by the sheer numbers of viable organs that are not harvested. I am here to let you know, I would love for every person to become an organ donor, but I don't think anyone should be denied the chance to live simply because they aren't.
I am open to hearing differing viewpoints. The more we discuss this, the more people become aware of the issue. If that means that I have to hear a hundred people tell me I am stupid because I disagree with this organization, it is worth it to me. The way I see it; we are discussing organ donation and if one person changes their view because of this discussion; my job is done.
So, let me know your thoughts.
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About the Author
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- From: gwacemom
- Name: Ange
- About Me: I am a mom to eight. 5 by birth, 3 by marriage. I am trying to rediscover myself. Writing has been a big help. I am passionate about Down syndrome awareness as well as CHD (congenital heart defects). Have a question about either, feel free to ask. If I don't have the answer, I will by nightfall. The beautiful girl in the picture is why I am so passionate about the two subjects. She is the face of Down syndrome. Not what you expected, is it?
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Comments (25)
For personal reasons, I am not an organ donor and do not wish to become one. But if you say "People who need organs should donate first"...that is just wrong if you ask me and the person who posted that is not informed as they should be. A majority of people who need an organ obviously already have trouble with more than one part of the body, so testing someone who already needs an organ to see if they can give is a waste of time. The most critical should go to the top of the waiting list in my opinion as they already do.
I am not comfortable being an organ donor and so I have not become one. I'm comfortable with giving blood (if I knew what my blood type was) as blood doesn't bother me. But having an organ cut out of my body just nerves me.
i like the way you presented this argument.
People who are really sick and in need of an organ donation usually can't donate organs because the ones that aren't causing their illness still have an affect on their other organs. Its sad to think someone could miss out on having their life saved because they aren't in a position to donate their organs
@MissPixieGlitter@xanga - Thank you. It took me two tries before I could get away from "are you freaking kidding me?". I hope that I was able to get the point across without sounding like I was trying to preach.
@Lil_Firefly_25@xanga - I understand that people have to make the choices that are best for them, although I would be lying if I said I wouldn't hope that down the road you changed your mind.
@bunny - Many people have the same feelings. As I said, I understand it is a personal decision but I would love to learn that someday you had a change of heart.
@MiSS__InSomnia@xanga - I agree with you. The healthy people who are able to donate organs are usually the ones who don't need them, so we would be denying the neediest. Like the author states, that's not the way to encourage donations. If that principle would be applied to blood donors, we'd have a lot of disease going around because of people lying about their health/sexual history in order to get blood when they need it. Not a good scenario.
Proud to be an organ donor-
P.E.
@mikenpeg@xanga - Excellent points, thank you!
Don't take your organs to heaven. Heaven knows we need them here! I'm curious what people's 'personal reasons' for not being an organ donor are? Anyone willing to share?
@draco1531@xanga - LOL, thank you for having the courage to put the question out there. I always want to ask, but just can't seem to bring myself to do so.
@draco1531@xanga - I was wondering that as well.
I am an organ donor. I don't see what good they will do me if I die tomorrow.
@bunny - But are you "comfortable" having someone else's organs put in you if you need them. Because if so then denying someone else the chance at life (after you are already technically dead) because it makes you "uncomfortable" seems pretty selfish. FTR, I would never deny someone an organ because they are not an organ donor.
I am an organ donor as is my DH. I would gladly donate my children's organs if, God forbid, it ever came to that. I am also on the bone marrow registry.
@bubbelcat - No I am not comfortable having someone else's organs in me either. And I don't think that is selfish at all not to want to donate organs or accept organs from other people.
@bunny - No I agree, as long as you are consistent on both ends of the spectrum it is not selfish. I also think some people do have some good reasons for not being organ donors I just don't think not being "comfortable" is one of them. But like I said, if you're consistent then there's really no issue.
@gwacemom - Nothing to add, really. Was just wondering...was that cactus always in the flowerbed?? Ouch.
@filtered_sunlight - LOL, no I planted it there to keep T away.
@gwacemom - Well, you could've warned me! Do you have idea what it's like to land on that puppy in a thong?!
@filtered_sunlight - LOL, the gold one with sequins???
I don't think that's fair at all, sometimes people change their minds anyway before they die. I remember my Grandma saying when I was little that she refused to be an organ donor, she was afraid of some of those conspiracies you hear about not really helping the organ donor just so they can get the organs. Not my main point, what is my main point is that in the week or so before she died she signed the paper in the hospital that gave her consent to donate her organs. Prior to that point she had been on the waiting list for a lung transplant, but as she saw the end coming closer she recognized that she could help other people with what she had that was working well. I also was once like her and didn't want to donate her organs but since she did donate her organs I've changed my mind and so have several of my family members.
@gwacemom - Yep, that one.
I concur with the author's thoughts. I am an organ donor. The whole idea of donation actually creeps me out, but someone's precious life is far, FAR more important than me feeling weird about it in life. After all, once I actually donate, I won't care anyway, being dead, so it's totally worth it.
Thank you for this very enlightend post... I'm not a Mom, but I have one -- and I am involved in the organ donation and transplant community...
I know the organization that promotes this concept, and I too disagree with the idea... There are too many potential issues, many of which you covered nicely... These are not decisions that people make while they're living life -- far too many people do not have wills, have not designated healthcare power of attorney, have not made decisions about what to do if... Sometimes, but probably not often, it can be about denial -- more often, we just don't think that way... But when the time comes to make the decision to donate organs -- many people who never considered it before make the compassionate, life saving decision...
Ten years ago I was dying -- my lungs were failing after struggling almost 40 years with cystic fibrosis... Ten years ago, a beautiful 17-year-old girl was having dinner with her family in Iowa... She brought up the topic of organ donation and she told them that she did not understand why someone wouldn't want to help someone else when they were through with life here... She brought it up again a few weeks later... And a few weeks after that -- her family, at the most devastating moment in their lives, had to make a decision... I breathe with her lungs. I think about her throughout the day, every day. I can see her smile when I close my eyes...
I don't know if she, or her family registered to be organ donors. But they did so much more than registering -- they acted -- they donated. Could you imagine, if they were in need, being passed over simply because they didn't register? I think that would be unconscionable... Just because someone "registers" doesn't mean they will or won't as the time approaches -- similarly, just because they did not register, doesn't mean they won't when that time comes...
A statistic I've heard from our local organ procurement organization is over 50% of people who are approached and choose to donate, they or their loved one were not registered organ donors at the time they donated... That means over half of the people who actually donated, not made a pledge to donate but actually did the deed, would not be considered under this policy... I think we need to create awareness -- people need to understand others are suffering and dying and there is something they can do about it -- but this policy would be wrong...
The most beautiful thing I've ever read about my donor, and about organ donation, was posted on a blog titled donorcycle, and the post is titled Legacy... I cannot read it without crying -- but then I am biased about the subject...
Again -- thank you for airing this topic. And to those commented about wanting to be organ donors when they leave this beautiful planet -- thank you... To those who donate blood -- thank you... Kari saved my life almost 10 years ago -- but five other people generously donated the blood I needed during my surgery to receive Kari's gift -- those five had a hand in saving my life as well... I have some of our story at www.ClimbingForKari.org (It needs to be updated -- I'll do that soon...)
Love, Steve
Steve Ferkau, Chicago, IL - BreathinSteven@gmail.com
I think it should be an "I dont want to be an organ donnor" sticker. If you dont want to be, you would go out of your way to get it. Many people are probably just indifferent or forget to get registered.
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先說年號問題，明朝皇帝在位時間再長， 酒店兼差年號也只有一個，惟獨他特殊，在位總共不過十五年，年號卻有兩個，前一個叫正統，後一個叫天順。倒不是因為他非要搞特權，兩個年號之間， 禮服店是由一大堆可氣的事串起來的。
先說正統朝，差不多是地球酒店打工人都知道的，這麼多的忠良幹才他不信任，偏寵信一個教書先生出身的太監王振， 一幹閹党把國家禍害得烏煙瘴氣。後來瓦剌犯邊，忠臣良將的苦勸不聽，偏聽死太監攛掇，非要御駕親徵， 合法酒店經紀帶著幾十萬人牛氣哄哄出了長城，按說既然親徵你就好好 打啊，他不，走到半道又後悔了，連敵人影 酒店工作都沒見著就撤兵，撤兵麼撤得快點啊，跑還沒跑成，讓人家圍在土木堡包了餃子，稀裏糊塗一場 酒店上班混戰，幾十萬大軍全死 光，連本人也當了俘虜。丟人到如此，實在可氣。
英宗被抓到蒙古高原上去啃生羊肉了， 酒店兼職爛賬總要有人收拾。皇帝讓人綁了，敵人打到家門口了，總不成學宋朝 來個衣冠南渡吧！還好喝酒 有他親弟弟給他收拾，弟弟朱祁鈺繼承帝位，改年號為景泰，可氣的正統朝總算結束了。景泰帝信用 酒店PT良臣于謙，成功組織北京保衛戰打垮敵 人，再運用外交壓力，逼得酒店喝酒 瓦剌把英宗放回來當太上皇，總算不用學宋徽宗那樣客死他鄉。折騰半天，祖宗江山差點丟了不說 禮服酒店，皇位也折騰沒了。這樣的鬧劇，怪不 得別人。
雖是傻事敗事一籮筐，但傻人總算有傻福，雖說皇位沒了， 台北酒店經紀命還是保住了，回來舒舒服服過太上皇的日子倒也 不交際應酬 錯，可他不消停，拉幫結派培植私人勢力，幾年後趁著弟弟病重搞了場“奪門之變”。奪粉味 回了皇位不說，上臺第一件事就是殺掉了功臣于謙。並把當初北京保衛戰 的功臣們來了個大清洗，掌握朝政大權的都是徐有貞、石亨、曹吉祥等一幫姦險小人。雖然過了沒幾年，這幾個人也被明英宗清算，下獄的下獄（石亨），充軍的充 軍（徐有貞） 寒假打工，被殺的被殺（曹吉祥），可明朝的政治氣象，還是一片烏煙瘴氣。
皇位奪回來了，自然就要改年號。於是，明英宗 兼差改年號為天順。從正統年到天順年，打敗仗，殺忠良，寵小人，亂國家，儘是他辦的敗事， 酒店小姐每每讀史到此，不知有多少人氣得 酒店公關直哆嗦。
可正統朝的事畢竟年頭遠了，真正給後 暑假打工世攢下麻煩的，是天順朝。
“天順”麼，按字面意思，自然有風調雨順的意思。 打工從這個意義上說，“天順”朝時代的明朝，運氣還真不 壞，別的且不說，單說綁過明英宗票的瓦剌，那在土木堡創下台北酒店經紀擊敗明朝幾十萬大軍，活捉明朝皇帝偉業的瓦剌首領也先，沒死在大對頭明朝手裏，倒在內戰中被一刀 砍死。到了天順朝時期，瓦剌又和鄰居韃靼打個不停，因此，雖然少了良將於謙，但終天順一朝的邊 酒店境形勢，還算是太平無事。