Why are some opposed to organ donation?
By wheel416
@wheel416 (1019)
Canada
December 21, 2008 12:53pm CST
This is a topic near and dear to my heart. I'm disabled and use a wheelchair due to Cerebral Palsy, as a result I was frequently hospitalized for surgery and physical therapy. While I was there I met many children, some of whom were chronically ill and who were waiting for organ transplants. Sadly, some did not receive their organ prior to succumbing to their illness. Other children I met had illnesses that were terminal, and while this may sound crude, I learned to accept death at a very young age. Based on my own personal experiences I can only see good, in organ transplantation and organ donation.
I am well aware of that I'm biased on this topic and that many feel for what ever reason that organ transplantation and organ donation is wrong. I have shared my point of view and the reasons I believe I feel the way I do.
Please feel free to share your thoughts on organ donation and or organ transplantation. I want to hear from you whether you agree or disagree with me. In particular however I would be interested in an honest sharing of your reasoning if you are against organ donation. I'm genuinely interested in trying to understand the other side of this issue. If it is for a religious purpose, I certainly want to hear that, but I'd don't want this to become a battle for or against religion, as that is not the point of this discussion.
I want to know how you feel about organ donation and organ transplantation and why you feel the way you do. Any comments would be greatly appreciated.
Happy Mylotting!
4 responses
@mimico (3617)
• Philippines
22 Dec 08
In my family, aunts and uncles are against organ donation because they don't like the idea of being buried with missing organs. That's just the older ones though. I think the younger generation has been westernized so much so that we have come to accept and even embrace the idea of donating our organs for scientific research or more importantly, the wellbeing of others.
1 person likes this
@wheel416 (1019)
• Canada
22 Dec 08
Mimico, as you are the first person to openly reference that your older family members hold the belief that the body should remain whole even for burial, I would like to ask you more about that if I may?
You've said that these beliefs come from Eastern philosophies, and that yourself and those of your generation have become "more westernized" and accept science more freely then your family members can.
If I may ask, how do your older family members feel about you altering your beliefs to include organ donation as a positive thing? Has this caused conflict within your family? Do your older family members, feel that their traditional values are being thrown away? Do they see you're becoming "more westernized" as a negative thing?
Any further cultural insight you could offer would be appreciated, and thank you for your response.
@balacancer22 (1148)
• India
22 Dec 08
Well i think that it is really a good thing only but when you look at the case in India,it really is the worst thing in most of the places since it has become a buissness out here and many people are cheated for money and their organs are removed and even though there are good things about the organ transplant only the bad things are found out by the public and i suppose these things have to be avoided and things have to be sorted out...happy mylotting...
@prinzess1515 (1341)
• United States
22 Dec 08
In the U.S. you can not sell organs or anything like that.
@wheel416 (1019)
• Canada
22 Dec 08
No, you are absolutely right we're not allowed to sell organ's over here in the United States or Canada for that matter. However, sadly there have been stories of people going from the United States and or Canada, overseas, where organs are you legally harvested, to "purchase" organs, as there are not enough available over here in North America.
I cannot post a link to such information, (I need my 500 posts first) however it does exist, and we in North America lot are definitely part of the problem, as it is many of our citizens who have the money to purchase the organs; also because our dollar is worth so much more overseas, we contribute to the problem by purchasing organs at a relatively " cheap" price (a few thousand dollars). Those in poorer countries choose to become involved in this black market work in trade because that few thousand dollars makes a huge impact to their lives, equivalent to us winning the lottery!
Thank you both for sharing your comments and happy Mylotting!
@rajeshank (253)
• India
22 Dec 08
Hi not some many oppose to organ donation because even if they accept to do so there parents and family members will not accept because they have some disturbance in there mind if there son.daughter does they will met with some bad incidents that's more parents concern and more people don't have proper knowledge about it thats main reason..for this...:(
@XaresAssassin (28)
• United States
22 Dec 08
When I get my drivers license. yeah Ill be an organ donor.
There are myths out there like if you get in a car accident they will just want to take your organs.
Im pretty sure they run more extra tests to make sure your alive before donating your organs.
