Poll: Have you signed an organ donor card?

Check the box, put it on your liscence (if they do that in your state), but most importantly - Make sure your next of kin know that's what you want! Some places they make the decision no matter what sorts of cards/etc. you have. (I think, however, that as with everything else, a living will sort of document will trump your next-of-kin's opinions on the matter. I am not, however, in any way an expert.)

I've checked the box and told all my relatives but I really need to put in writing that after they take any organs they'll take, I'm guessing just my corneas, I want my body donated to a medical school for use in either teaching or research.

Here in Minnesota, you can sign up on a registry for just that. Assuming you meet their needs, you'll have a team of medical students learning about human anatomy on you.

One of the neat things is that after they're done with your body, they cremate you and return your cremains to your family. And I'm like, "hey, free cremation!"

I would prefer not to be an organ donor.� Somehow I feel that it has become taboo to not want Organ Donor status, much like saying that voting doesn't count (shh).� Oi, politics.� Yer either one one side, or wrong.

Sorry.� heh.

Respect to organ donors, of course. � Your body, your choice.� While Altruism is it's own reward, I'll hold onto my untained liver for a bit longer, please.

Oooh. That's a good idea; I'll have to consider that as well.

The last two polls remind me of one of my favorite Woody Allen lines, I think it is from Sleeper.

I believe in two things, sex and death, and I don't throw up after death.

To be completely honest? Some days I think the decision has as much to do with the idea of parts of myself living on after I've gone as it does with the idea of helping people.

I think you're probably right about it having become almost taboo to not want to be a Donor, but I can respect that there are people with good reasons not to be - reasons that are important to them.

So sort of the same idea back at you - your body, your choice. I might not agree, but I can certainly respect your decision not to be one.

It might be taboo to not sign the card but only a tiny percentage of people actually donate their organs. This is a tragedy. Thousands, of people die, and others suffer because there is a critical shortage of donated organs.

Valid points. Very valid points.

I know some people who have been stopped by the urban legend that if a paramedic/ER doc sees that you have an organ donor card, they won't work as hard to save you.

Heh. Even if it were true I wouldn't personally mind all that much. Other folks would still probably make better use of my parts than I have. :)

No one is going to take your liver while you are still using it. After you die it can save someone's life. Donating an organ when you die isn't altruism, you aren't giving anything still of value to you.

One change that I'd love to see in our laws is that donating your organs would be teh default position and you'd have to sign a card if you didn't want to donate. That would be a true pro-life law.

I don't think that would ever happen while some religions still have issues with what you do with your body post-death.

Thousands, of people die, and others suffer because there is a critical shortage of donated organs.

I'm normally not one to publicly criticise grammar use online, but I think you might have a little bit of a comma addiction.

I don't think it will happen but it should. Nobody would be forced to donate, anyone could opt out without even having to state a religious objections. There is actually a good parallel here with the draft. Some religions have objections to military service yet the draft was enacted and passed constitutional muster. Those who objected were excused if they could back up their religious convictions. This wouldn't even require such proof. What really needs to be done is for the opinion makers, especially the president to educate the country on the importance of donating organs. I think most people would if it didn't require their families being pro-active about it on their deaths.

I can see this is a real core issue for me. It just seems like people needlessly die because we are uncomfortable about dealing with death.

At least with the draft though, you had the ability to prove your convictions after you got the call. So if you were ignorant that you might qualify for the exception...there may be time.� With something like this...it doesn't come into play until you're deceased. No time to make up for ignorance of the need/ability to opt out.� I've just lost faith in the government being able to properly educate the populace on the content and next steps for a broad legislation they may pass. I'd fear pockets of the population might not know or understand what was happening.

Mind you, I am very much in support of organ donation and anyone can have all my pieces. I just think your proposal is problematic.

Huh?� Some dude just offered me $50 and a can of Bumblebee Tuna for my liver.

I didn't mean to suggest that the actual donation of an organ is altrustic, moreso the desire to helps others through this situation.� It was the thought that supposedly counts, no?

I understand�your idea of having an opt-out policy, but I have a hard time agreeing.� Sadly, there are probably too many people out there that would be upset if choices had been made for them.� Maybe them voters in Florida, or somethin'.� They don't like being told what to deux.� Then again, if you could win 'em all, you'd run out of storage space for all the prizes.

I have big plans for when they instate both the draft, and the manditory organ donor program:� I'm gunna smoke so many cigarettes that I fail the military physical, and then nobody gets me, or my�lungs.

Sometimes I just enjoy being a jerk.

I dont have any signifigant opposition to being an organ donor.� I would have no problem being one, but I'm going to hold off for now.� Similar to how I feel about voting (again, shhh :), whats the big deal about a single kidney?�

Okay, maybe more than sometimes.

I'm kidding, by the way.� I just enjoy�drawing rediculous�parallels that shouldn't exist.

not donating organs is a waste. everyone should do it (if they are not for some reason freakishly opposed) because it does no harm, only good.

not donating organs is a waste. everyone should do it (if they are not for some reason freakishly opposed) because it does no harm, only good.

What do you mean by freakishly opposed? Personal beliefs? Religious beliefs?

*curious*

It's actualy "I believe in sex and death, two things that come once in a lifetime. But at least after death you're not nauseous."
I'm just a stickler for proper quotation.

Thank you. I was actually going to say nauseous then said, "no, I always screw that up so that must be wrong."

I always appreciate corrections of facts. If there were a place I could have looked the quote up i before I posted I would have.

At first Orthodox Judaism forbade organ transplants. I remembered that was changed but wasn't sure I was right. I did some googling on the subject and found this excellent article in the Jewish Voice.

Here is the positions of other religions on transplants. There is very little opposition to transplants by organized religion. Most leave it up to the conscience of the individual.

Google is your friend. :)

yea. like they actually have reasons. not just "well i think its gross." i have friends that say that they wouldnt donate because they dont want other people to have parts of them. i think thats a stupid reason not to donate.

*points up and right*

the reply button is your friend.

No it isn't, it never invites me to parties. It never even writes or calls me.

hehe. sorry. thanx for the help.