Health & Fitness

Organ donation

Health & Fitness

Posted by: neendy

17th Mar 2011 06:03pm

Australia has the lowest numbers of organ donation in the developed world? Why? What can be done to increase the donor rate?
Are you an organ donor? If yes, why? If no, what's holding you back? Are you an organ recipient or know someone who is? How does it feel like?
What are your thoughts?

Comments 17

Kessa1959
  • 20th Jan 2014 10:39pm

I am an organ donor and always have been. I also encourage family members to sign up. We have friends who lost their son and by donating hi organs helped them cope with the loss as they believe that their son didn't die in vain.
I think we should have an opt out program rather than opt in.

kimmaree84
  • 28th Oct 2013 09:54am

I am a donor, but I only signed up last year.
For me, it was one of those things I'd thought about for quite some time but never actually got around to doing. I finally bit the bullet though.
I think a lot of people have views about organ donation that make them think they will just immediately be shut off life support if they are a donor and in a situation where they may die (this seems to be a common fear from a lot of people I talk to).

I think it really just needs to be publicised more and very transparent so people's fears are alleviated.

JesseKat
  • 28th Oct 2013 01:32am

Yes. I'm an organ donor. They can have everything ! The way the
country can increase donations is like the Dutch. You have an opt
out, not opt in. What I mean is. Everyone is a Donor, if you don't want to be a donor. You fill out a "don't want to be a donor" form,
instead of a "I want to be a donor" form like we have here.
If you have any reasons why you don't want to, like for religious
reasons its easy "OPT OUT ! " fill out that form. Look people we need these parts. My way of looking at it is. What if it was your sister, brother, Mother, Father, Son, Daughter. You would do anything and everything to keep the people you love alive !!!
I know I would.
When we are dead we are dead who cares. There are people here
who needs these "bits". Lets give them to them. We don't need them anymore.

Anonymous
  • 27th Jun 2013 06:23am

I believe being an organ donor should be compulsory, when one enrols to vote there should be a box that they tick then if they wish to be removed from the organ donor list. I actually believe most people are just to lazy to sign up to be an organ donor. I do understand that maybe not everyone can be one, but there is no harm. I also think of it as if I was to die and had perfectly functioning organs why not give someone else the gift of life.

Anonymous
  • 25th Jun 2013 09:11am

Methods that could be used to increase the number of organ donors may be education and promoting the need for organ donors and the number of lives they could save once they are deceased. Personally I am very happily an organ donor, I will not need my organs once I have passed away, however donating them gives me the chance to save many lives and reduce the stress on the recipients loved ones. I dont actually know anyone who has recieved organs or who is on the waiting list, but put yourself in their shoes. If you were dying and needed an organ to save your life or are watching a loved one suffer while waiting for a donor you would be hoping for the best. You have the power to creat the happiness in someones life after you are gone, so what is stopping you?

Kris
  • 17th Jun 2013 12:00pm

I am registered on the Australian Organ Donor Register. It is simple and easy to sign up, fill out an online form, download an online form, go into a Medicare/Department of Human Services to pick of a paper form/brochure, or contact 1800 777 203.
This is a way of letting the medical side of things know your wishes, but it does come down to your family. It can help if you incorporate this into your will, or power of attorney documents.

I certainly agree that this should be an opt out system. I also believe that there isn't enough 'modern advertising regarding organ donation. A Facebook 'sponsored post' campaign could greatly increase awareness with younger generations.

I am also listed on the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (http://www.abmdr.org.au/). I did this when a person in my workplace required a bone marrow transplant. I didn't know it existed prior to this. Although this requires additional information to be taken (a blood sample) I believe it is worth my time if I can help someone into the future. I believe increased awareness for this could be gained through GP's, people going in for standard check-ups or once they reach 18.

Anonymous
  • 29th May 2013 12:16pm

I have always said that I would be willing to donate my organs but there is not much information out there to take the next step in doing so. As long as you make your family aware of your wishes.

Anonymous
  • 16th Oct 2012 05:26pm

I am an organ donor because I believe is something beneficial can happen from my death like prolonging someones life then I am happy to donate. More information should be given for example when selecting to donate on a drivers licence to get people thinking about their options etc.

Anonymous
  • 23rd Feb 2012 08:59pm

An opt-out system would be good. A lot of people wouldn't be bothered to even think about this, so surely more donations would be at hand
.

Tricia
  • 19th Feb 2012 04:55pm

I believe we should have an opt out desinion. I think I can shed some ligjt on why there is such a low rate, my cousun pased away some years ago in the UK she wanted ti be an irgan donar and her husband abided by her wishes and 14 peiople benefited from this. Some time latter when Dabid Hookes was a donar I remarked to her husband if something could come of something so bad it was a blessing.It was only then he told me just how awful the process is it isn't just signing one piece of paper and thats that no you have to sign for every organ that is used and as he said to me it is like disecting your loved one.So if they change the process it will go a great way to increase the nos.

schnitzel
  • 2nd Oct 2011 05:34pm

organ donation should be an opt out system like a lot of countries. That is automatic organ donation unless you opt out for whatever reason. A lot of people are just too lazy to do anything about organising themselves to be a donor

Lilibet
  • 20th Oct 2011 08:26am
organ donation should be an opt out system like a lot of countries. That is automatic organ donation unless you opt out for whatever reason. A lot of people are just too lazy to do anything about...

I agree that organ donation should be mandatory and that an opt out clause is the only way to increase the organ donation rate in Australia. I had been a blood donor for many years but unfortunately due to one incident after a donation, I can no longer give blood although I am fitter and healthier than ever now.At the time I was registered as a blood marrow donor, but dont know if I am still on that list.I felt cheated when I was no longer able to donate blood. I also had the opportunity to become an ogran donor last year through gifting one of my kidneys to my brother who was waiting for a transplant... such a good outcome and I'm well and healthy after the operation

gatesy45
  • 16th Sep 2011 09:59pm

is a very good thing to do but that would also depend on ones health and wether there strong enough fisically or mentally to handle it my grand daughter need a donor for bone marrow as she has lucemia and its so hard to find the right donor my grandaughters name is kiara and she just turned six years old she has one of the wortse lucemias u cAAN GET POOR BUGGER I WANTED TO DONATE TO HER BUT WAS UNABLE AS ITS NOT GOOD FOR FAMILY MEMBERS THEY SAID ,HOPE WE FIND A DONOR SOON BE WONDERFUL FOR KIARA TO SROP ALL HER TREATMENT BECAUSE THE LUCEMIA HAS GONE INTO REMISSION.

Lilibet
  • 20th Oct 2011 08:27am
is a very good thing to do but that would also depend on ones health and wether there strong enough fisically or mentally to handle it my grand daughter need a donor for bone marrow as she has...

Hope that they find a good match for your grand daughter very soon

TsarinaFai
  • 31st Aug 2011 04:44pm

I love the idea of organ and blood donation but not sure if I can be a candidate since I was born in England during a mad cow disease outbreak. I'll go in and ask one day.

lisa170
  • 21st Jul 2011 12:50pm

I am all signed up to be an organ donor. My mother hates the idea so I've absolutely drilled it into my fiance that he is my next of kin and she is not to make the decision should the worst happen. I hate the idea of my mother letting me linger if I'm brain dead. I already give blood every three months even though the red cross seem determined to make that as hard as possible for us. So if its going to save lives I'm all for people using whatever they can from me.

Shezak
  • 16th Jun 2011 09:03am

This is a good topic. Sad no one has commented. I am a diabetic and as such I cannot give blood and probably my organs could not be used by others SO, I have written on my organ donation card, TAKE WHAT EVER YOU LIKE AND USE TO EDUCATE THE ONES THAT ARE LEARNING......... At least that way my body may be of some use. PS. I am down for cremation and NO OPEN COFFIN, so they can go crazy!!!!!

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