Presumed No consent.
Transplant doctors and health charities have praised Theresa May’s decision to change how organ donation works in England in an attempt to provide more hearts, kidneys and livers for patients in need.
The prime minister announced plans to move to a system of presumed consent – meaning everyone is presumed to agree to the removal and reuse of body parts after their death unless they opt out – in her speech to the Conservative party conference in Manchester on Wednesday.
Presumed consent is not consent. The only consent that has any value is informed consent. To take, without specifically asking beforehand is theft. And before anyone regales me about saving lives; organ transplant is little more than life extension – a life that means taking a cocktail of immunosuppressants before the new organ is finally rejected by the body and the whole thing starts all over again. It’s not a life I would want to lead, frankly.
In any other scenario, the state and those clapping like seals at the pronouncement, would be condemning the organisations concerned – because presuming that someone has consented without asking them beforehand is immoral – but because “saving lives” somehow morals can be cast aside. Well, I refuse. I will opt out. I am not spare parts that the state can just take without asking beforehand. So, given this, the answer is “no.”
‘Presumed consent’ isn’t consent at all. Isn’t that what we’re having constantly hammered at us with regards sexual liaisons? We’re told that ‘presumed consent’ is rape. How is the macabre harvesting of organs any different?
Not that I would need to worry – my organs have been used to the max, and wouldn’t even have any scrap value.
They can have my internal organs when they prise the filterless cigarette from my cold, dead, BROWN fingers.
Then drink and smoke yourself to death and no one will want your body parts. Also the rest of us will be spared your company so I’d call that a win win
The very fact that it’s considered necessary to introduce presumed consent belies that consent is given when it’s presumed. And it’s a lazy and high-handed attitude, the ultimate state theft. My worry when such a policy is announced is that it’s implemented quietly without people realising and knowing how to make sure that their opt-out wish will be known because no-one’s thought out a uniform opt-out check procedure.
I am currently registered as an organ donor, through my choice.
As soon as this awful proposal passes into law, I shall be rescinding my registration. The state does not own my organs and they can fuck right off.
I think you’ll not be the only one.
He certainly won’t.
Tht has always been my position too – that as soon as it became opt out, I would do.
Idiots.
There is a science fiction short story called Caught in the Organ Draft by Robert Silverberg. The basis of the story is that once transplant technology is as easy as swapping an engine out of a car, then the State will mandate that young, healthy people will be forced to donate an organ, for the good of society don’tcha know?
The story (complete) is here:
https://lexal.net/scifi/scifiction/classics/classics_archive/silverberg3/silverberg31.html
This is a first step to that …
Thank you for the link; I had quite forgotten this ecellent morality story.
You’ve reminded me of a novel by Kazuo Ishiguro “Never Let Me Go” (Worth reading as is anything by Ishiguro IMHO)
Pretty sure The Religion Of Peace requires bodies to be ‘whole’ at burial…
*grabs his vegan , organic, fair trade, salt & sugar free popcorn*
‘whole’ in the metaphorical sense, surely….
One assumes the more…uhm…’explosive’ amongst them have some papal dispensation for their fiery immolation?
There were some 550 000 deaths registered in England and Wales in 2016, and the figure of 500 ‘saved lives; is being bandied about as an excuse to nationalise our bodies.
What is being proposed is to drive a coach and horses through our rights to ‘save’ 0.1% of the population.
In this instance, 500 is NOT a large number; it is almost insignificant.
I shall certainly opt out if and when presumed consent becomes law. However, my wife and family know that I am more than happy for any of my body parts which have not been damaged by beer, wine and whisky to be used to benefit others if they can.
Organ transplantation can transform a person’s life. My brother-in-law, a diabetic since 8 years old, had a kidney and pancreas transplant, it took him off dialysis and diabetes medication and has greatly enhanced his life. He is still going strong 5 years after the op and doing so much more with his wife and kids.
Quite so. When I was younger, I carried a donor card. What I object to is the increasingly hysterical nagging and guilt tripping and now, the ultimate in deranged behaviour; state sanctioned theft. I therefore will not comply. They had their chance now they’ve blown it as far as my bits are concerned. Never will they have them.
And that’s a no from me too
I have always considered it really important to make sure that my insides are available to help improve the lives of others after I no longer need them. For this reason I am registered as a donor. I don’t subscribe to any religious superstitions so that isn’t an issue. I still want to help people but this is a really serious civil liberties issue. For these reasons, I intend to opt out but make it clear to those close to me that I still want to give my bits away.
Me too. Why this has raised it’s head at this time is beyond me. MAy seems to be expert at introducing irrelevant trivia into the policy arena when we have far more important things to concern ourselves with. If this is some sort of smokescreen,then it fails miserably.
It also follows the policy that is in place in Wales, and I refuse flatly to do anything that was thought up by the Welsh 😉
So now we’re not allowed to end our own lives but we are required to positively refuse to part with our organs after death. I find this inconsistent.
What next I wonder? Remember the euthanasia farms in ‘Soylent Green’?
Perhaps there’s a market for ‘Non-Donor cards’ that we can all carry? I must look into that one. Could be money in it…
I agree entirely with Scott Wichall below. I have been a registered organ donor for a number of years. If “presumed consent” is brought in I will opt out immediately. My body is mine. I decide what part I might wish to be given to someone else, NOT the State.
With regards to the idea of “presumed consent”, where does that leave the drunken girls who, two or three days after the ‘event’, decide that they didn’t consent after all?
What use have you for your liver when you’re dead?
What use have I for my house, my possessions, my money? Should the State get to confiscate them too?
Maybe the next roofie-supplying date rapist can try the ‘presumed consent’ tactic, since it clearly works in government…
Why wait for a date? Next time you are under general anaesthetic they can call in all immigrant staff who are having a sexual emergency. After all, you won’t know about it and if it saves just one child….
For those who, like me, will opt out, there’s another way: donate your body to medical science. You still get to ‘help’, that way.
I wanted to leave my body to medical science but then I heard they were planning to contest the will…
Looks like it’s come to the point where a good lawyer becomes the first requirement should you fall ever seriously ill and have to go into a ‘wonderful’ (Ironic laughter) UK NHS hospital.
There’s also a worry that someone in a coma or similar unconscious state might be ‘harvested’ without consent. What happens in the case of a misdiagnosis? Does anyone get their kidneys, liver, heart or lungs back if the doctors get it wrong? Does happen.
I think there is a case to be made for this, although I recognise the force of the objections to it, but it is another example of the terminal stupidity of the Tories that they propose such a contentious measure when they clearly cannot cope with existing issues….
I intend to opt out and leave a letter with my executors concerning the availability of my tissues for transplant purposes. That letter will apply conditions, mainly regarding the recipients. If my own family need any of my tissues or organs, they must have first priority. If this is denied by the transplant service, no tissues or organs may be used for anyone.
The transplant service have their own priorities, they don’t care about yours.
Non of this matters. they will salami slice it. Soon you opt outs with need to justify your attitude and then the people will ‘speak’ .
you wont answer as you will be dead.
‘will need’ – sorry
They don’t play that game. Their terms or no terms.
Pat Nurse made a valid point in the comments at VGIF insofar as what has today been presented as ‘presumed consent’ will gradually (as these things do) transmogrify into a situation where you will be forbidden to indulge in a lifestyle which may render your organs unsuitable for re-use. The comment was made slightly tongue-in-cheek, but given the fondness of the health nazis for the salami-slice approach, this could very well be the thin end of the wedge.