Are you an organ donor?

[RIVERWIDOW]

My daughter-in-law's step dad died this last week. He had been waiting over a year for a lung transplant. This is a man who never smoked but had a genetic pulmonary diease that also killed his dad. I think it is so sad that people die and get buried, cremated whatever with organs in their bodies that could save someone's life. All He needed was one lung. You would think that in a year one would become available but it never did. Actually one did but it couldn't be used. It was in too bad of shape. My husband & I are both listed as organ donors on our licenses. My feeling is, what do I need them for once I'm gone ? I think like 7 people can be helped when 1 person dies depending on what their cause of death is. So my question is, How many of you out there are potential donors ? Do your families know your feelings on the matter?
:thumb:

[Nija]

I would be an organ donor, but to be honest I don't trust the paramedics.
<paranoid>
I want them to save me with 100% effort. I don't want them, or the doctors, saying, hey this could has a great ______ that we could use for patientA.
</paranoid>

Do I have anything to back this thinking up with? No.

Maybe later on in life I will become one, but only after I've gotten enough use out of my own body parts.

Now, if we could grow these parts, that would be fantastic!

[ufcrusher]

Nope, not an organ donor...never will be. Against both my beliefs and religion. I came in with all my parts, need to go out with all of them.

My family and everyone knows that THE ONLY instance where I will allow an organ transplant is to save someone in my family's life. The only reason why that is acceptable to me is that they will be buried in accordance with our laws/traditions.

I know at least 2 people (3 procedures) who required organ transplants and didnt make it. The one never received a transplant and died as a result. The other had one transplant and rejected it only to be given another. Unfortunately she died anyway after the second transplant. The transplants gave her extra time (a year or more) with her family, which is wonderful. She didnt make it to her 18th birthday.

If you want to give of yourself that is fine but an individual choice.

[Jenny]

Yep, Scott & I both are.

[kimchicowboy]

yeah. when i die, i dont need 'em anymore. hope others can. :)

[cruelpupet]

Im not...dont plan on it.


and no i dont have a good for my decision.

[RIVERWIDOW]

yeah. when i die, i dont need 'em anymore. hope others can. :)

It would be great if more people thought this way. Even though Ron died waiting for a lung, he donated what organs of his that could be used. As a result 2 people will have new corneas. I would think God would be very happy with anyone ,no matter what religion, who tried to help better someone elses life. But it is a strictly personal choice. I don't hold it against anyone who chooses to take their body to the bitter end. :)

[Jenny]

As a result 2 people will have new corneas.


My sister would thank you. She's got kerataconus, and the only treatment is a corneal transplant. :( She's only 22, and the doctors are encouraging her to wait as long as possible, but she's nearing the end of her rope. *sigh* :(

[Gothic Girl]

My husband and I are. I feel the same. If I'm gone, I don't need them, so why not someone else?

[hapoo]

I am.
I'm not going to miss having rotting organs once i'm gone. If its going to give another person even 5 minutes extra with their loved ones, then by all means. IMO religion is about the spirit, the flesh is meaningless.

[molecularfire]

I am an organ donor although as far as I know, I'm the only one in my family who is. It is against our religion (well... theirs... I'm agnostic). Apparently if you wanna come back whole, you have to be buried with all of your parts. The gods can put you back together but I guess they need the raw materials to work with. I can understand and respect the decision of those who chose not to donate organs although IMO if you aren't willing to be an organ donor, you shouldn't receive organ transplants.

Btw Nija... organ transplants are done by a list, not by who in the hospital needs it so even if the paramedics or doctors let you die, they don't get a say in who the organ goes to. It goes to whoever is a match that is highest on the list irrespective of where they are.

[Gothic Girl]

Sorry, but WTH kind of religion prohibits organ donations?

[Markel]

Sorry, but WTH kind of religion prohibits organ donations?
Well, as a Christian, a big part of my faith is that my body will be resurrected. For some time my thinking about this kept me away from signing on as an organ donor, as the Bible teaches having a care and value for our bodies. However, a few years back I was thinking that there probably wouldn't be much more of a better way to honor my body if I were to die than by helping someone else live. In addition, the resurrection will "feature" new bodies, so I don't think that there will be any missing parts. ;) As a result, I signed on as a donor a few years back.

[RIVERWIDOW]

Well, as a Christian, a big part of my faith is that my body will be resurrected. For some time my thinking about this kept me away from signing on as an organ donor, as the Bible teaches having a care and value for our bodies. However, a few years back I was thinking that there probably wouldn't be much more of a better way to honor my body if I were to die than by helping someone else live. In addition, the resurrection will "feature" new bodies, so I don't think that there will be any missing parts. ;) As a result, I signed on as a donor a few years back.

Thank you. This is my thought exactly but put more eloquently that I did.
I just think being an organ donor is the last and best use of your body. It is my soul I worry about not my worldly body. I am all about children and if I thought a child could live longer or see because of my old body ,I would be tickled no end. I guessthe bottom line still is how you think about and interpret
your own religion and beliefs. I am not into organized religion but that doesn't mean I don't believe in God and the hereafter. I just don't need my body intact to get there. Only my soul. :angel:

[kimchicowboy]

yeah. i'm a christian too, dude. i never thought about resurrection like that, cuz it's not like it's not my physical body and the stuff inside is going anywhere, ya know?

[Markel]

yeah. i'm a christian too, dude. i never thought about resurrection like that, cuz it's not like it's not my physical body and the stuff inside is going anywhere, ya know?
I don't want to turn this into a theological thread, but just to add why I gave real consideration to the idea of being an organ donor:

1 Cor. 3:16-17 "Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are." (NASV)

When the New Testament refers to "the temple of God", it often is referring to our bodies. (You have to take the context of the passage into consideration). The way we treat our bodies shouldn't be taken lightly. Of course, it is a given that once we die, our bodies decay and rot away. But Christianity puts a value on honoring our bodies (which, on another topic, is why I want to be buried and not cremated).

[ufcrusher]

Its against the rules for Judiasm. However there are different levels of devoutness and each group can have completely different takes on it. As such, some donor sites are unscurpulous and list blanket statements saying its alright under jewish law when in reality its not. (Sort of like, reform jews dont keep kosher and would happily eat a pork chop and could even make a statement that pork is allowed. "The Other White Meat" ad council decides to make a statement that even Jews are allowed to eat pork, quoting the one part. However, for the majority of followers its untrue) I have even seen one donor site which broke down reform, conservative, orthodox, and another type of orthodoxy.

In their attempt to corrupt reality, they stated that it was allowed by reform and the orthodox, but not the conservative or other orthodox. Then it made a statement next to the 1 orthodox saying it was the ultimate mitzvah (good deed) to give of ones body and MAY be forgiven by g-d, so long as the transplanted organ was reburied with the body when it was done being used in a complete separate ceremony. I hate to tell them that if its not allowed for any conservative there will is NO WAY any orthodox follower will allow it. Plus what transplant receiver is going to agree to have the parts ripped out and buried according to the law when they are done with it. It would not ever happen. Thats what they get for basing statements on nonesense.

[riskykougra]

I am an organ donor. I choose to be one because I know far too many people who are either waiting for transplants or will not live long enough to receive one. If you can help even one person then I think that is great. As for the people who dont wish to donate do to religious beliefs..well that is entirely their decision and it should be respected. I would also like to add that I am sorry for your families loss Riverwidow but I am glad they chose to help someone else in their time of sorrow.

[kimchicowboy]

I don't want to turn this into a theological thread, but just to add why I gave real consideration to the idea of being an organ donor:

1 Cor. 3:16-17 "Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are." (NASV)

When the New Testament refers to "the temple of God", it often is referring to our bodies. (You have to take the context of the passage into consideration). The way we treat our bodies shouldn't be taken lightly. Of course, it is a given that once we die, our bodies decay and rot away. But Christianity puts a value on honoring our bodies (which, on another topic, is why I want to be buried and not cremated).
yeah. i see your point. but the way i see it, it's a temple of God when we're alive. but once we're dead, our spirit leaves the body and it's just an empty shell. what purpose does it have to God then? i don't see how a dead body with all of its insides can glorify God. but if i can bless others through my organs, i think that's cool. :)

and i'd rather be cremated cuz getting buried costs a lot of money and i'd rather have the money saved be used for charity purposes. hence, being a good steward with my finances. :) but yeah, that's a whole different topic. hahaha

[bachviet]

Yes I'm an organ donor. I hope that some of my organs could be used to save someone's life. I don't need them after death anyway.

[InfiniteNothing]

I don't want to turn this into a theological thread, but just to add why I gave real consideration to the idea of being an organ donor:

1 Cor. 3:16-17 "Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are." (NASV)

When the New Testament refers to "the temple of God", it often is referring to our bodies. (You have to take the context of the passage into consideration). The way we treat our bodies shouldn't be taken lightly. Of course, it is a given that once we die, our bodies decay and rot away. But Christianity puts a value on honoring our bodies (which, on another topic, is why I want to be buried and not cremated).

By that logic shouldn't surgery be out too?

[molecularfire]

I don't know about all christians but catholicism for a while said that doctors couldn't do surgeries or even shed blood.

[Houdini]

I don't know about all christians but catholicism for a while said that doctors couldn't do surgeries or even shed blood.

Really? I didn't know about that.

Guess I'm a bad Catholic (according to the old rules). I like cutting and suturing. :)

[nickel]

Yes I'm an organ donor. I hope that some of my organs could be used to save someone's life. I don't need them after death anyway.
my thoughts exactly. i have a friend whose husband has had 3 kidney transplants and he's only in his early 30's. one of the kidneys came from a young woman who was killed in a car accident. that kidney lasted for 7 years. he got to meet her parents and they were overjoyed that he was able to receive their daughter's kidney. they felt so connected to him, and i believe it helped them with their grief.

---------------------------

I don't know about all christians but catholicism for a while said that doctors couldn't do surgeries or even shed blood.
this is news to me. where did you hear that?

[bbrian]

I don't know about all christians but catholicism for a while said that doctors couldn't do surgeries or even shed blood.
News to me too.. especially since there are so many catholic hospitals, many of which are very old.

[Burzhui]

Hey nickel

be an organ donor, give head :naughty:


and no i am not an organ donor

[molecularfire]

Really? I didn't know about that.

Guess I'm a bad Catholic (according to the old rules). I like cutting and suturing. :)
Yeah, this was a long time ago in the middle ages... I think... It was a papal decree that health care workers (at the time which were predominantly monks) shouldn't shed blood so doctors didn't do surgeries. Oddly enough, barbers actually did the surgeries for a long time before getting accredited (Barber surgeons and then the royal college of surgeons) and finally forming their own school and merging with physicians to become physician-surgeons.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worshipful_Company_of_Barbers

[nickel]

Hey nickel

be an organ donor, give head :naughty:


and no i am not an organ donor
so you don't get head? cause it's your organ that's being donated. :P

----------

Yeah, this was a long time ago in the middle ages... I think... It was a papal decree that health care workers (at the time which were predominantly monks) shouldn't shed blood so doctors didn't do surgeries. Oddly enough, barbers actually did the surgeries for a long time before getting accredited (Barber surgeons and then the royal college of surgeons) and finally forming their own school and merging with physicians to become physician-surgeons.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worshipful_Company_of_Barbers
interesting... i wonder what the basis/belief for that was. (that the monk-doctors couldn't make anyone bleed).

[tupacboy]

i'm a donor... and i know my liver has been well tested :) :cheers:

[krayzie1]

Donor here also. Its only fair what could you possibly do with them once you are dead?

[InfiniteNothing]

I don't know about all christians but catholicism for a while said that doctors couldn't do surgeries or even shed blood.

I love it when people pick and choose what they want to believe.

I also find it interesting that not only do people interpret facts to see what supports the bible but they also interpret the bible to support what they wanted to believe in the first place.

[RIVERWIDOW]

If any of you are in the San Diego area, Ron's wife is being interviewed tomorrow on Channel 10(abc) news at 5:00. I believe the interview talks about how many people die waiting for organ transfers. Also how he helped over 60 people with bones, corneas and I don't know what else. Even though he died waiting, he was able to help other who were also waiting. When its your time ,its your time. :angel:

[sourdough]

For me to be an organ donor would first require that I have organs. All I have is superior yeast cultures that give me my sour taste, wonderful texture and help me more resistant to mold. They apparently can't use that. :(

Hey I tried, but what can I say? I'm just sourdough.

[Kevster]

I am a donor. I personally know two people who are alive today and able to live a somewhat normal life thanks to kidney transplants. Being on long-term kidney dialysis really sucks - unless you personally know someone who has had to go through that for a few years then you don't know what I'm talking about.

[Mommypooh]

I am, I have made that clear to my husband and when the children are older and out of high school they will be made aware in the case something would happen to dad and I.

[molecularfire]

I love it when people pick and choose what they want to believe.

I also find it interesting that not only do people interpret facts to see what supports the bible but they also interpret the bible to support what they wanted to believe in the first place.
That's just human nature. Everybody does it, from govts., to churches, to you and I. We believe what we want to believe and find ways to justify things in our mind. People a couple thousand years ago did it, people hundreds of years ago did it, we do it and most likely people hundreds and thousands (assuming we don't destroy ourselves by then) of years in the future will do it. The question I always have when I criticize the fallacies of people in the past, is how are people in the future going to judge us.

[InfiniteNothing]

That's just human nature. Everybody does it, from govts., to churches, to you and I. We believe what we want to believe and find ways to justify things in our mind. People a couple thousand years ago did it, people hundreds of years ago did it, we do it and most likely people hundreds and thousands (assuming we don't destroy ourselves by then) of years in the future will do it. The question I always have when I criticize the fallacies of people in the past, is how are people in the future going to judge us.

Okay but isn't it fair to say we should try and curb these instincts like other instincts. (For example, reading a newspaper that you might not agree with)