Dr Uche:
It’s gotta be an opt-in system and I’m saying that with full awareness of the continual organ donor shortage.
Like I said, I get it, in the UK there are over 7,000 people waiting on the transplant list (2015) and that number is over 106,000 (2022) in the US…HOWEVER the opt-out system is effectively saying that the state owns your body parts, at the time of your death, UNLESS you express the right to keep them. That’s kinda like someone squatting in your house when you’re away UNLESS you leave a note saying “please don’t squat in my house”. I’m sorry, it doesn’t sit well with me. Instead, let’s get more creative about the ways in which we encourage people to opt-in and maybe we should consider creating better incentives. Furthermore, a 2021 study by Molina-Perez et al highlighted that policy makers may overestimate the effectiveness of adopting ‘opt-out’ organ retrieval policies by underestimating the power granted to families in decision making around organ donation. Let’s do things the right way.
Hilary:
My general sentiments towards state sanctioned plug pulling is also my sentiments towards state sanctioned organ harvesting (YIKES).
It sounds like one of those wild VICE documentaries about how a family from far off nations get the news that their loved one got taken off the life support and their organs taken without their consent… oh wait that’s the NHS. Opt-in programs are the only ones that should exist… one’s body and organs are not the property of hospital systems/governments. That’s all.
Read the relevant report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-64625483
*Disclaimer: All opinions expressed on this platform are those of the individuals and not representative of any particular institution. This is not to be taken as medical advice.
