[AllegraM]

Interesting article about whether a grieving family should have the right to veto the wishes of a registered organ donor.

http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/should...organ-donation/

Two years ago I watched a close family member pass away from horrific injuries after he was declared brain-dead and had his life support was switched off. He was a registered organ donor. It never occured to me or other family to override his clearly expressed wishes to donate his organs and tissue. Unfortunately, he had suffered too many injuries for his organs to be donated so in the end it was a moot point. We were disappointed for my family member, as it was what he had always wanted to have happen.

Having watched the care and extensive process with check after re-check taken by the medical staff during the process of my family member being declared brain-dead, I don't have the fear of life prematurely being ended by organ-hungry doctors.

I strongly believe that if an individual has registered to be an organ donor, family should not be able to veto their instructions. My only qualification is that parents of a child under 18 should retain the final say in regards to donation of their child's organs (I would think this is the case anyway- I would presume registered donors must be over 18?)

What are other people's views?

[FrogIsAFrogIsAFr...]

I'm with you, OP, for the points you made.

This thread will be interesting in light of a recent thread on adhering to "last requests" or promises - from memory, most said they'd agree at the time to a last request from a dying relative but NOT fulfill it necessarily because the person would be presumably none the wiser!

[GoBack2Bed]

I very passionately and vehemently oppose family being able to override my decision to donate organs. I made the decision it should be adhered to. I personally think the whole system should be EVERYONE is automatically an organ donor unless they opt OUT of the system.

I've told my whole family repeatedly my wishes. My parents told me they would never agree to it. So my husband knows he absolutely has to agree with it which he will.

[CallMeProtart]

I agree the wishes of the owner (or ex owner!) of the organs should be respected. The family doesn't (without considerable complication) get to veto their wills - why should they get to veto their organ donation.

I think there are certainly cases where this could be traumatic for the families involved, and that is a shame. But the same can be said for wills, and they don't get to override those. I don't see it as drastic at all - in fact it seems kind of obvious.

[Blossom77]

I am on the organ donor register, but I would remove my name if my family were not able to make the final decision. I have expressed my views, and I hope that they will be honoured, but I do not wish my views to be forced on my family if they find the situation too distressing. I have also been through the process of donating the organs of someone I loved very much. It was incredibly raw and difficult. If I drop dead tomorrow and my family simply cannot face having my organs donated, then I would hate for them to be further traumatised by the issue being forced. I can't imagine the distress it would cause if their views were overridden.

My autonomy doesn't continue after I'm dead at the expense of the feelings of the people I love the most. I am confident they will abide by my wishes, but if when the time comes they don't feel they can handle it, so be it. I consider their feelings more important than my wishes.

[GoBack2Bed]

Blossom77 excuse my ignorance as I've not been in your position before but my understanding is that it's extremely raw and difficult to make the decision to donate because the family is asked. If it is documented that the person planned to donate then shouldn't it just be signing the final paperwork rather than actually deciding?

[ubermum]

I personally think that donation should be an opt out, rather than opt in system. As for the family having the last say, I would be extremely annoyed if mine didn't honor my wishes. They know my feelings, the husbands of one of my best friends died on a transplant waiting list.

[AllegraM]

I am on the organ donor register, but I would remove my name if my family were not able to make the final decision. I have expressed my views, and I hope that they will be honoured, but I do not wish my views to be forced on my family if they find the situation too distressing. I have also been through the process of donating the organs of someone I loved very much. It was incredibly raw and difficult. If I drop dead tomorrow and my family simply cannot face having my organs donated, then I would hate for them to be further traumatised by the issue being forced. I can't imagine the distress it would cause if their views were overridden.

My autonomy doesn't continue after I'm dead at the expense of the feelings of the people I love the most. I am confident they will abide by my wishes, but if when the time comes they don't feel they can handle it, so be it. I consider their feelings more important than my wishes.

While I see your point, I don't necessarily agree. It is just not a deceased person's wishes versus those of their family, it is a deceased person's wishes, plus the numerous lives their donation may save or improve versus those of their family. I do acknowledge trauma and grief make things very hard but I maintain that the donation should go ahead regardless.

[Pearson]

I very passionately and vehemently oppose family being able to override my decision to donate organs. I made the decision it should be adhered to. I personally think the whole system should be EVERYONE is automatically an organ donor unless they opt OUT of the system.

I personally think that donation should be an opt out, rather than opt in system. As for the family having the last say, I would be extremely annoyed if mine didn't honor my wishes. They know my feelings, the husbands of one of my best friends died on a transplant waiting list.

My bold above - It should be opt out, not opt in. The family should not be given the option to override the persons wishes whatsoever.
Besides, organ donation, for lack of a better synonym, is a fantastic form of recycling. Imagine how many peoples lives you could save.

[*Spikey*]

I've warned my family that if they disregard my wishes in respect of organ donation (I choose to donate anything and everything that is needed), then I will return from the dead to haunt them until their dying days.

It should be an opt out system for deceased persons. Opt in for 'live person' transplants.