What is your feelings on organ donation?
By dorannmwin
@dorannmwin (36392)
United States
December 8, 2009 11:15am CST
I avidly watched the show Three Rivers that was about transplantation and organ donation and I already miss it. I'm hoping that they decide to bring in back in the spring because I thought that it was a truly great show and I learned a lot of things from it. Besides that, I feel that it brought the importance of organ donation into a light that most people didn't already know.
So, having said that, if you were to be in a situation where you were brain dead, would you want your family to sign off on organ donation? Are you registered as a donor? Why do you feel the way that you feel?
3 people like this
10 responses
@much2say (55289)
• Los Angeles, California
9 Dec 09
Even though I think it's great that people donate their organs, I have not yet registered to donate my organs. And I'm actually not sure how I feel about it. Part of me thinks I should donate for others in need, as a gift that only another healthy human can give . . . another part of me thinks I need to stay intact for my family (that's kind of the thinking I grew up with in my family). A young friend of mine passed away a few months ago . . . she had a rare brain disease, and I know she had donated her brain for research. My mother in law wants to donate as well for alzheimer's research (as it runs in her family).
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
10 Dec 09
It is odd to see how people's stances on organ donations differ with their family backgroun. I don't think that I would be so in favor of donating my organs if it weren't for the fact that I grew up hearing my grandfather talking about wanting to donate his eyes when he passed away. Also, I feel strongly about it because of the fact that I have always been a giving person and it is the last way that I will be able to help other people.
@much2say (55289)
• Los Angeles, California
11 Dec 09
That is amazing your grandfather wanted to donate his eyes - he must have had an awesome pair! I recall a conversation my sister told me about that she had with my parents . . . she spoke of donating her organs if something ever happened to her - and my parents (especially my dad) had a fit about it. It had to do with knowing that the person left this world in one piece (????????????). That being said, if someone in my family or a close friend needed my organ when I passed on, I would definitely be ok with it.
@happy6162 (3001)
• United States
8 Dec 09
I used to be a registered donor but am not now. I just told the man when I renewed my driver license no. I have been thinking of changing it again when it is time to renew my license. It is a very good thing to help out others by donating your organs the thing I do not understand is why they charge these people so much to get a donated organ. Maybe that why I change and am not a registered donor.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
9 Dec 09
I don't really think that the reason that people are charged so much is actually because of the donated organ that they are going to be receiving, I really think that a lot of the cost that is involved is actually due to the amount of medical care that the people require.
@momtrying2makeit (3270)
• United States
18 Dec 09
I am not a registered donor and I never plan to share my organs. When I was growing up my dad was really againist this type of thing because he said it was not really the will of God to those type of things. I am not againist it but would never do it to be honest. I know it has saved a lot of lives but also many lifes are lost due to being on a list too long. I also have opinion about the lists thing as well it seems to me if you have money you get bumped to the top but if you are poor and cannot afford to be rasied to the top than you sit waiting for someone to pass for the chance for you to be bumped on the list. Seems to me that something is unfair about that. As you can see I have a strong opinion on the subject but I am sure that many families and people have benefitted from it as well. Take care and happy mylotting to you. 
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
18 Dec 09
I think that you may have hit on a very valid point about people that are from the advantaged groups may have an advantage in this area as well. However, that is not going to sway my decision to be a donor. Have a great day.
@froggieslover (3069)
• United States
8 Dec 09
That is a question that I have often asked myself as well. I am not a registered organ donor but there is a part of my that thinks I should be or would like to be but I still have this other part that is scared or not wanting to be an organ donor. The part of the is for it thinks I could potentially save another persons life but then the other thinks I want to rest in peace and will the allow me? My husband and I are back and forth at times about this and I am not sure what we will decide if anything....
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
9 Dec 09
My parents too were always back and forth on the issue. Now, nearly 15 years after my father passed away, I wish that my parents had come to some resolution on the issue because my father was in a hospital comatose for several weeks and though his heart was damaged (he had a massive MI), there were organs in his body that could have lived on in another person.
@froggieslover (3069)
• United States
10 Dec 09
I am sorry to hear about your father...my husband and I have talked about what we would do in those type of situations. We know that this is never something that you want to talk about or face but there have been times when we have talked about what the other would do in situations but I think we are both on the fence with organ donations and I agree that we should all make that decision because we never know when our time comes, i am just not sure what i am wanting to do quite yet...
@vandana7 (100119)
• India
9 Dec 09
Hi dorannmwin, there is a new possibility of artificial organs coming into market, did you know that? That would be a much better option than organ donation. This is because exact tissue match is feasible. Basically, they make a structure using biodegradable material, and leave it in a culture of embryonic stem cells with certain time of chemical composition. These embryonic stem cells grow in number and produce a new heart, or lung, or whichever organ that may be required. I read somewhere that they've succeeded in developing heart with this method - but have not managed to match the beat. Therefore, it may take a few more years to come into market. Till then, we still have our traditional ways. :)
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
9 Dec 09
I do believe that new technology is going to come into light that will make the process of being able to get a replaement organ easier, but I also don't believe that the science of this will ever be perfect.
@sweet_pea (3322)
• Philippines
12 May 11
I think organ donation is a noble cause. It feels good that a part of you lives, long before you had gone and that somebody's life had benefited from it. I still need to get a donor card but I have already expressed my wishes for organ donation to my husband.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
17 May 11
I signed up for organ donation the last time that I had my driver's license renewed. For me, it is something that is very important because of the fact that I am the kind of person that cares about other people more than I tend to care about myself.
@clocks123 (1225)
• United States
9 Dec 09
personally, i feel that i would be too old to donate organs, however, i think younger people should become donors due to the fact that there are so many men ,women, and children waiting for organs to be replaced.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
9 Dec 09
Thank you for sharing your views. I however, do respectfully disagree with you because I think that any viable organ could be used because they try to match up the recipients with the age of the donor as well. Yes, there are lots of young men, women and children that need organs but there are also older people as well that need them.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
8 Dec 09
They can take organ of mine before I am cremated. Sorry, not online much as too busy. Blessings
@evydabest (197)
• Malta
8 Dec 09
hey dorannmwim,
I personally think that organ donation is a very nice think. Especially if i die without cause, i wouldn't like it that all my organ's go to waste, when someone would need to live. If it means saving another person's life i wouldn't mind giving my organs to someone after i die, and not have need for them. I would feel very happy if i could save someones life. I would be more than willing to let my family sign off my organ donation. I am not registered as a donor yet, but i will probably in the near future.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
9 Dec 09
Thank you very much for sharing your views. I hope that you do indeed register as a donor in the near future.
