Is it selfish to choose not to donate your organs after you die?

1. 71

   Aime Fposted 8 years ago

   Is it selfish to choose not to donate your organs after you die?
   
   Only 25% of Canadians and less than 40% of Americans are organ donors.  Is there any reason for you, as a dead person, to keep your organs that's more important than possibly saving another person's life?  Should organ donation be routine (ie. Not a choice) under certain circumstances?

   replyreport
2. 94

   lisavollrathposted 8 years ago

   No, it's not selfish, but to be clear, it's up to the family of the deceased, and not the dead person, to insure the organs are donated according to their wishes.
   
   A small number of people decline to become organ donors for religious reasons. Others have medical conditions that preclude them from becoming donors. People who die at home are not allowed to donate their organs, even if they carry an organ donor card.
   
   I think donating organs is a great thing, but it's a donation, not a requirement.

   replyreport
   1. 71

      Aime Fposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      That's true (and I have issues w/ the family having the final say but not enough room to get into it) but I meant more for taking the initial step of registering as a donor.
      
      Thanks for answering.

      replyreport
3. 66

   WordCrafter09posted 8 years ago

   People are so bloody arrogant and aggressive they'll take what's yours when you're alive if they want it, and if they don't want it they're as likely to make sure you don't have it anyway (It's the "Cinderella Thing", I guess).  People's organs are their own, and, no  - it's not up to anyone else to think they have a right to take them.   Yes, it may seem selfish, and it may be selfish, but it should be people's "God given" right to be selfish if they, for some reason, think that's what right for them.
   
   There's a point where vulture behavior really does need to be stepped on when it shows up in humans, regardless of whether what's they're "stalking" is alive or not.
   
   There's a saturation point that people can have, and these days I find the saturation point with the kind of disturbing and SELFISH thinking that happens when people think they have a right to what belongs to someone else.  We all know of people in history who were incapable of respecting the lives and rights of others.  This question here, I think, particularly takes the cake!!!!
   
   The "funny" thing about vulture behavior towards others is that even when someone manages to take away from someone else what they didn't like seeing them have; it turns out that that it's a big failure anyway.  In the case of organ donation it may not be individual failure from a procedure, but the failure would be out there and looming in the overall culture.

   replyreport
   1. 71

      Aime Fposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Just to clarify, I don't think anyone should feel they have a right to anyone else's body parts.
      
      I think you make a good point that people have a right to be selfish if that's what they feel is best for themselves.
      
      Thanks for the answer.

      replyreport
   2. 66

      WordCrafter09posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks, and I'd like to clarify that I don't necessary having the right to be selfish means a person ought to be.   

      replyreport
4. 86

   tamarawilhiteposted 8 years ago

   Given that doctors are eager to turn off life support if you are an organ donor, stating that you are not an organ donor increases your odds of not being terminated early in those circumstances.

   replyreport
   1. 71

      Aime Fposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Ultimately that's not the doctor's choice, though (at least not where I am).  Part of the reason it's important to have a plan in place should life support become a reality.
      
      Thanks for the answer.

      replyreport
5. 84

   Express10posted 8 years ago

   No, it is not selfish. It is a choice to be respected either way and should never be made into law under any circumstances. At least here in the US, we have many other things that our government must focus on.

   replyreport
   1. 71

      Aime Fposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks.  I agree that making it mandatory would be a slippery slope.  I wonder if it might be better to have an opt-out system rather than opt-in, though.  90% of people support organ donation but donor % is abysmal - ppl forget or don't know how.

      replyreport
   2. 84

      Express10posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Many people know, their priorities and choices lie elsewhere. Opt out systems are abused in this country. That would be asking for trouble.

      replyreport
6. 70

   Titen-Sxullposted 8 years ago

   I think this depends on how we define the word selfish but I would say in my opinion no it's not selfish.
   
   To be an organ donor is a selfless act, in a sense, even though the person is dead. But simply because you do not agree to do something selfless doesn't automatically make your refusal selfish.
   
   It's like when a cashier asks you to donate to a dollar or two to a cause, usually a local charity. It would be a selfless or charitable act to say yes and pay the money but that doesn't mean it's selfish to say no and just get on with your day.
   
   A lot of people seem paranoid that doctors are going to start carving them up for parts even when they might not be dead - I'm not sure how founded these fears are but they keep a lot of people from checking yes on the organ donor box.
   
   Others may believe in a bodily resurrection of dead in the "end times" and those people have the restriction that they cannot be cremated or have their organs removed because they may need them in the event of suddenly coming back to life at the end of time. This is similar to how the ancient Egyptians kept the organs of the mummified, along with valuables, buried with them so they could journey to the afterlife properly.
   
   I don't think there should be any situation where such donations are mandatory. Most "Western" democracies hold individual rights, especially those regarding our own bodies, to be very important as are our rights regarding how we wish to die and be treated in death. I don't think the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few enough to go against someone's wishes in this case.

   replyreport
7. 82

   Discordzrocksposted 8 years ago

   Im donating everything, besides, you know, my um.....

   replyreport
8. 85

   Annsaloposted 8 years ago

   I think it is a little bit selfish. I just can't think of any reasons why someone wouldn't donate at least some of their organs. Because it is our own body though I do not think it should be forced.
   I think of it like any other charity. People shouldn't be forced into donating to anything, but they should WANT to do it.
   Doctors are not going to pull plugs early or kill you off to get the organ quicker. There are laws in place that doctors are not going to ignore (unless their a criminal).
   I have no need for my organs once I am dead. Donating sounds a lot better than just rotting or burning with me. So as long as I meet the criteria like my organs are usable, I hope I can help someone else, and I wish everyone else would be charitable as well since they aren't going to be using any of their organs after they pass.

   replyreport
   1. 71

      Aime Fposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks, I totally agree with you.  To me it's a bit like having a million dollars that you saved up cremated with you. It's yours, you can choose to do that, but it seems like SUCH a waste when it could change or save someone else's life.

      replyreport
9. 41

   Denis Lubojanskiposted 8 years ago

   I think everyone should realize that there is no use of organs after you are dead. And it cannot be done by imposing some rules. This mentality should come from inner side.

   replyreport
10. 66

    rolaabboudposted 7 years ago

    I do not consider this as a kind of selfishness because no one is forced to do this although you may rescue someone's life but as I mentioned if you want this so it's up to you but you can't force any one to do so. And most people who do not donate find this a little bit hard on them to imagine that there is someone is using their organs even if they are dead.

    replyreport
11. 53

    frumpletonposted 7 years ago

    I am an organ donor, for all it's worth.  I'm 63 next month, so I doubt if anything is good except maybe skin for a burn victim.  It is a property of the deceased and I don't think it is selfish if they want to stay intact after death.  Some people probably worry that only rich people will receive their organs and the less fortunate won't get a donation (which I think is very unfair).  And when I die, I do not want any life-saving measures taken because by the time the paramedics show up, I'll be brain dead and I would rather just die than be like that.

    replyreport