I am NOT a donor, am I EDIT: a bad person? EDIT!

[Celtic_Kerr]

As I mentioned, one day I might have a change of heart. I'm not trying to be an asshole. I'm not trying to stare the world down and give it the finger. These are my thoughts, my opinions. That's it.

What you describe is not "change of heart". It's called "Fearing the reaper". In your scenario, you'll feel mortal and suddenly want to survive just a little longer.

Again, thank you on behalf of humanity for making the Darwinian competition easier by eliminating yourself from it.

I do not fear the reaper. I do not fear death. I do not fear being dead, dying, or what pain ensues in order to bring me to a dead state. As I mentioned, I live with an expiration date above my head. I have a maximum of 38 years left on earth. 1/3 of my life is gone and I'll never get it back. You learn to make the most of life and live every day like it's your last

 

[NeuroticDogDad]

On your first point, by that same logic human beings weren't "meant" to do many things I (rather poorly) assume that you do such as communicate in the way we do, eat food we haven't caught or taken from the earth, wear synthetic clothes, live in brick houses etc. and yet you seem not to have problems with those things.
The human body wasn't meant to sit on chairs or use the forms of transport we do. It wasn't meant to be as immobile as we were but walk for miles and miles every day.
Humans also weren't meant to be burned or buried but you wish to be buried? Are you to be buried without a coffin so that your remains immediately go into the earth in a "natural" way?
Why choose medicine as a place to take a stand against "unnecessary" artificial methods?
Why selectively live only certain aspects of what you consider a lifestyle for how the human body was "designed"?

Your second point about the beaver and your final statement about the man with kidney failures time coming indicate beliefs in intelligent design and fate. Are your ideas of nature religiously based?

I gotta be honest. It's how my mind perceives it to be honest. I'm not against evolution or anything. Just... Don't believe in modern meds. They simply feel unnatural to me, and so do organ transplants. It can seem like my answers are half hearted, but it's my perception of things

It doesn't seem like your answers are half-hearted, only that you haven't really questioned what that feeling or instinct of disliking modern medicine. Obviously, you don't have to. I consider myself a rational person and try to conduct myself as such but I have many behavioural qualities that aren't rational, however, I might rationally question a gut feeling/phobia/instinct if it inhibited the way I lived (which this doesn't for you) or someone else's life (which it could). Obviously I don't expect you to do any such thing.
But, if you ever do question your idea of modern medicine and come back with an explanation I'd like to hear it.
I appreciate you trying to help me understand your perspective nontheless.
Thank you.

 

[zombiesinc]

Evil? No. Hypocritical? Yes.

Thing is... you may not feel comfortable with the thought of someone cutting into your body, but by that point you'll be dead, which leaves you incapable of being aware of it happening. So, why let it even remotely stop you from donating.

You want to save a life, but you don't want to donate? Donating your organs after death might very well be the best chance you have at saving a life.

 

[Celtic_Kerr]

On your first point, by that same logic human beings weren't "meant" to do many things I (rather poorly) assume that you do such as communicate in the way we do, eat food we haven't caught or taken from the earth, wear synthetic clothes, live in brick houses etc. and yet you seem not to have problems with those things.
The human body wasn't meant to sit on chairs or use the forms of transport we do. It wasn't meant to be as immobile as we were but walk for miles and miles every day.
Humans also weren't meant to be burned or buried but you wish to be buried? Are you to be buried without a coffin so that your remains immediately go into the earth in a "natural" way?
Why choose medicine as a place to take a stand against "unnecessary" artificial methods?
Why selectively live only certain aspects of what you consider a lifestyle for how the human body was "designed"?

Your second point about the beaver and your final statement about the man with kidney failures time coming indicate beliefs in intelligent design and fate. Are your ideas of nature religiously based?

I gotta be honest. It's how my mind perceives it to be honest. I'm not against evolution or anything. Just... Don't believe in modern meds. They simply feel unnatural to me, and so do organ transplants. It can seem like my answers are half hearted, but it's my perception of things

It doesn't seem like your answers are half-hearted, only that you haven't really questioned what that feeling or instinct of disliking modern medicine. Obviously, you don't have to. I consider myself a rational person and try to conduct myself as such but I have many behavioural qualities that aren't rational, however, I might rationally question a gut feeling/phobia/instinct if it inhibited the way I lived (which this doesn't for you) or someone else's life (which it could). Obviously I don't expect you to do any such thing.
But, if you ever do question your idea of modern medicine and come back with an explanation I'd like to hear it.
I appreciate you trying to help me understand your perspective nontheless.
Thank you.

I should be able to answer you in a few sentences: I don't dislike modern medicine persey. I can't deny the wonder's it's worked. I dislike TAKING modern medicine.

 

[headshotcatcher]

Evil? No. Hypocritical? Yes.

Thing is... you may not feel comfortable with the thought of someone cutting into your body, but by that point you'll be dead, which leaves you incapable of being aware of it happening. So, why let it even remotely stop you from donating.

You want to save a life, but you don't want to donate? Donating your organs after death might very well be the best chance you have at saving a life.

That last thing is the very fact that makes me ponder this so much.. I really hate it when I'm being hypocritical, so I'd like to resolve this one way or another.. Giving it enough thought.

 

[NeuroticDogDad]

I should be able to answer you in a few sentences: I don't dislike modern medicine persey. I can't deny the wonder's it's worked. I dislike TAKING modern medicine.

Should you ever be able to fully explain, beyond them feeling unnatural, why you dislike taking modern medicines and partaking in organ donation schemes or make me understand why they feel unnatural then I should like to hear it.
I shouldn't wish perhaps the only considerate and reasonable discussion in this thread to turn in to the fruitless back-and-forths of internet communication, nor do I wish to delve into pedantry, and I suspect you wouldn't either Kerr.

 

[Exile714]

When they embalm or burn your body, they desecrate it anyway. So... just let them take your organs.

BTW, I am a LIVE donor. Meaning I had an organ (half of my liver) taken out and inserted into another. It saved that person's life.

 

[drdamo]

I don't believe in Gods, afterlife, reincarnation or the like so in my eyes my corpse will either be food for maggots or when cremated a final attempt to increase the overall CO2-emission. So I don't see any objection in salvaging my organs for the life of others when the alternatives are hypocritical, selfish & inefficient.
I actually would like to see my skeleton end up in some biology class if it helps the preservation of medical knowledge.
So in short, I couldn't care less if I'm cut up into a hundred pieces and that my body is mamed, mutilated or generally said fcked-up.
Battery dead = waste of resources to let it rot or go up in smoke.
Ofcourse this is my opinion. If you feel insulted or any form of guilt than I guess you are either affraid of the unknown after death, a believer of someone/thing who prefers to uphold the rules & laws that go with it, or as said by many before me; a hypocrite/just plain selfish.

 

[Timmey]

Refusing to donate is actually the morally correct choice. So no. Donors are evil. You are good.

What do you mean by this ?

I am a donor, for every single bit of my body. I feel that when iam dead i may as well help someone else live.

 

[olicon]

Interesting arguments going on here. Personally, most people that I know would never dream of donating organs.
Then again, there's a girl who wanted her remains to be casted out in the forest for wolves..

Everyone has a different idea of what to do with their bodies. Personally, I'm giving away everything, wholesale. Less pieces to take care off, I say. Not that it would be much use to anyone except med students looking for a cadaver by that point, seeing as I tend to find absentminded ways of slamming my various organs into immovable objects every day.

The funny thing is, I would be highly opposed to people transplanting other people's organ into my body. I feel that if I'm going to die, then I'll just have to die. Similar to Celtic Kerr, I don't really want this unnatural thing happening TO me. In a sense, I'm also quite a hypocrite, seeing as I'm willing to inflict this fate on others though.

 

[headshotcatcher]

I am not an organ donor. The only reason being that I feel comfortable with it.

Though if I'd be in danger I would really appreciate getting someone's donor organ..

Am I evil?

Please be objective, I'm just wondering

Evil? No, of course not. Hypocritical? Certainly. You may perhaps want to consider why you're not comfortable with the idea.

I really don't know.. I wish I would though.. It's just some thorn in my side..

On the one hand it would feel wrong to be a donor, on the other I feel just as wrong not being a donor.

I preach saving others, I practice self-conservatism (with no rational reason)

 

[Susan Arendt]

I am not an organ donor. The only reason being that I feel comfortable with it.

Though if I'd be in danger I would really appreciate getting someone's donor organ..

Am I evil?

Please be objective, I'm just wondering

Evil? No, of course not. Hypocritical? Certainly. You may perhaps want to consider why you're not comfortable with the idea.

I really don't know.. I wish I would though.. It's just some thorn in my side..

On the one hand it would feel wrong to be a donor, on the other I feel just as wrong not being a donor.

I preach saving others, I practice self-conservatism (with no rational reason)

I'm not for a moment suggesting that you *must* believe in organ donation - that's a personal choice, and you're entitled to your feelings - but you seem to think there's a right thing to do, and you're not doing it. So what's the hangup? What would be "wrong" about being an organ donor?

Ah, just read your edit, you seem to believe - as many do - that organ donation is a form of desecration. But if it's desecration for you, it's desecration for everyone, which means you should be against it completely, which means you couldn't accept a transplant, either. But, given that you've said you would...I'm not buying the desecration angle.

It's perfectly possible that the idea just plain creeps you out. And it is kind of odd to think about - bits of you running around in someone else's body. But remember: should this situation ever arise, you're dead. Your body at that point is just so much meat - what's the worse fate for it: food for worms, or helping someone live a longer life?

There are some people who believe that being an organ donor means that doctors won't try as hard to save your life, but I don't buy that.

 

[Dastardly]

I am not an organ donor. The only reason being that I feel comfortable with it.

Though if I'd be in danger I would really appreciate getting someone's donor organ..

Am I a bad person?

Please be objective, I'm just wondering

EDIT:
To elaborate, I would feel kind of desecrated if people started to cut in my body, however one of my life goals is to save someone from death..

I started this thread to get some opinions and to see if anyone could change my mind, Thanks for the reactions so far!

Also: Is it possible to put terms up when you sign for donor? For example if I'd just want to give a kidney?

(Semi-changed my mind so far )

In my experience, barring religious beliefs (which would also preclude a person from ACCEPTING organs), it's hypocritical. If you ever think to yourself, "If I needed an organ, I'd surely want one!" then you should be willing to donate.

Now, you unfortunately can't itemize what you want them to take, because there are no guarantees it will be harvestable at the time of your death. It might be all they can get is some skin and your eye. It could be they use both of your kidneys. You might save a life, or just ease the emotional suffering of a burn victim.

Either way, it's a communal system. If you want to take from it, you should be willing to put in. If you have compelling reasons for not wanting to put in, you should ensure that you don't even accidentally take out.

(There are those rare folks that think if they're organ donors, doctors won't work as hard to save them in the case that they could get a badly-needed organ or two. Those people are paranoid idiots, and almost never opt to accept donated organs.)

 

[headshotcatcher]

I am not an organ donor. The only reason being that I feel comfortable with it.

Though if I'd be in danger I would really appreciate getting someone's donor organ..

Am I evil?

Please be objective, I'm just wondering

they're your organs. i dont know why you WOULDNT be a donor, but its your decision

I am not an organ donor. The only reason being that I feel comfortable with it.

Though if I'd be in danger I would really appreciate getting someone's donor organ..

Am I evil?

Please be objective, I'm just wondering

just ask yourself why you are not an organ donor and figure if that is a good reason.

My reason are:

AGAINST:
It feels wrong to be one
What if I need my organs in the afterlife?
I'd rather not have people meddling with my body after death

FOR:
It feels just as wrong, if not worse, to be this selfish/hypocritical
If there's anything like the god the christian people proclaim there to be, heaven is perfect and I wouldn't require my organs. If anything I'd be lauded for being selfless enough to give away my organs. (I think)
I would be dead so I wouldn't feel a thing




The feelings are really the deciding factor, and inside I'm as ambiguous as possible about this.. D:

 

[Susan Arendt]

My reason are:

AGAINST:
It feels wrong to be one
What if I need my organs in the afterlife?
I'd rather not have people meddling with my body after death

FOR:
It feels just as wrong, if not worse, to be this selfish/hypocritical
If there's anything like the god the christian people proclaim there to be, heaven is perfect and I wouldn't require my organs. If anything I'd be lauded for being selfless enough to give away my organs. (I think)
I would be dead so I wouldn't feel a thing




The feelings are really the deciding factor, and inside I'm as ambiguous as possible about this.. D:

You don't need organs in the afterlife. I'm sorry, but that's just silly. You don't have a body, ergo you don't need organs. Assuming that the soul carries on in some way - and it might, who knows? - your body clearly decays and goes the way of all things. So that's just an absurd idea.

As for not wanting someone meddling with your body, guess what - that's going to happen no matter what. You'll be examined, embalmed, dressed, buried (or cremated, whatever your preference) - all sorts of people will be fiddling with you after you croak, and that's assuming your cause of death is obvious.

As for the "wrong," well, you need to more clearly define that.

 

[Dastardly]

Who cares if it may only last 3 years instead of 10. I am sure he would happily take it.

So the point is, since they waste soo many perfectly usable organs they have no need of mine. Infact my adding my body as a donor would make it worse since I am giving them even more of a selection to be picky over. By denying them my body I am forcing them to either go without or to re-look at these usable organs they would otherwise waste.

The unfortunate truth is that they do it because using an organ that can in ANY way be shown to have been potentially compromised, or even marginal, opens the door wide for a lawsuit if and when the patient experiences complications or dies.

They don't need donor records, either (though they could get them). They could just do an analysis, and an examiner says, "This pancreas shows signs that it was in an obese person, and was already experiencing above-average workload." (Yes, there are far more things wrong in an obese person, or a smoker, than just the heart and lungs.) And now, the lawsuit tips heavily in the favor of the guy that got an extra YEAR when he could have died in a WEEK. Or it goes to his estate.

Rightfully? Not according to you, as these were perfectly good organs. But the hospital/doctor is now flat broke due to a crazy settlement because they "knew" this organ was sub-standard when they took it. And a broke hospital has to make all kinds of sacrifices that can negatively impact patient care... and lead to even MORE lawsuits, potentially.

It's just a hellstorm they prefer to avoid. Also, do you realize how difficult organ transplants are, and how likely even a PERFECT organ is to be rejected? Every little complication is multiplied exponentially when you try to move an organ from one body to another.

 

[headshotcatcher]

My reason are:

AGAINST:
It feels wrong to be one
What if I need my organs in the afterlife?
I'd rather not have people meddling with my body after death

FOR:
It feels just as wrong, if not worse, to be this selfish/hypocritical
If there's anything like the god the christian people proclaim there to be, heaven is perfect and I wouldn't require my organs. If anything I'd be lauded for being selfless enough to give away my organs. (I think)
I would be dead so I wouldn't feel a thing




The feelings are really the deciding factor, and inside I'm as ambiguous as possible about this.. D:

You don't need organs in the afterlife. I'm sorry, but that's just silly. You don't have a body, ergo you don't need organs. Assuming that the soul carries on in some way - and it might, who knows? - your body clearly decays and goes the way of all things. So that's just an absurd idea.

As for not wanting someone meddling with your body, guess what - that's going to happen no matter what. You'll be examined, embalmed, dressed, buried (or cremated, whatever your preference) - all sorts of people will be fiddling with you after you croak, and that's assuming your cause of death is obvious.

As for the "wrong," well, you need to more clearly define that.

You are right, right and right.

Problem, I can't define the wrong thing more, except saying that I feel like a hypocrite for wanting organs but not wanting to give them, but am averse to giving them because of gut feelings that I can't explain and can't get to leave..

 

[Lilani]

Refusing to donate is actually the morally correct choice. So no. Donors are evil. You are good.

What do you mean by this ?

I am a donor, for every single bit of my body. I feel that when iam dead i may as well help someone else live.

snip

I have two things to say to you, one of which will probably make me irate, so I'll get the more objective one out of the way first.

I am not a doctor either, but from what I've been able to observe, people who are in need of organ donations are in a very fragile state. So, giving them diseased or unhealthy body parts are not only at risk of rejecting MUCH faster, but also infections or just the poor conditions of the organ could affect other parts of the body in negative ways.

If you give a lung full of tar to someone with lung cancer, their immune system is most likely already shot from the chemo. They'll die of an infection within days. And if you give a weak heart due to high cholesterol to...well anyone, really it's bound to fail within days or hours, not years. I think it's safe to say transplants put a lot of stress on organs.

Not to mention all of the wasted time and resources expended on these "bound to fail" operations. This is all just conjecture of course, but it all makes sense.

And here is the bitter part of my response. To say that you are fighting against the "fallacies of the health system" by refusing to donate your organs is like a child holding their breath because they didn't get candy. It's petulant, childish, selfish, and solves absolutely nothing. Nobody is even going to notice your refusal to donate, unless you wear it in bright red letters on your T-shirt every day.

Nothing will change because of your lack of action. It's like urinating on a deer in Yosemite to rebel against the war in Iraq. If you really want them to take a second look at the organs they're "wasting," go and tell them about it. Write letters to medical facilities. Talk with experts in the field. Get the word out.

If you aren't willing to do any of those things, then you don't really want anything to change. You just want an easy way to justify your actions, or lack thereof.

 

[Timmey]

Refusing to donate is actually the morally correct choice. So no. Donors are evil. You are good.

What do you mean by this ?

I am a donor, for every single bit of my body. I feel that when iam dead i may as well help someone else live.

Simple. First off however I must say I am not a doctor so this is all just from what I have heard from various other people. Perhaps their selection process is not as strict or perhaps there is a real reason for what they do. If I actually spoke to a surgeon and he told me it was a lie then I may change my mind. Until then...

Now. Look at how many organs are wasted. Someone gets into a car crash and snaps their neck. Their organs could be used to help plenty of people. Blood, bone marrow, lungs, heart, kidney, liver, corneas, skin, hair. Plenty of shit.
Yet if the person is a smoker or overweight they will write that entire body off and waste all those things. I mean fuck, smoking sure, hardens the heart and fucks the lungs. What about the rest of the body?
They also turn away obese bodies when the only thing wrong with them would be their hearts.

Even so. Lets say a organ is not in absolute tip top condition and thus may not work as well or for as long as their required ones, you think that is gonna matter to some poor bastard who could die within a week without these organs?
Who cares if it may only last 3 years instead of 10. I am sure he would happily take it.

So the point is, since they waste soo many perfectly usable organs they have no need of mine. Infact my adding my body as a donor would make it worse since I am giving them even more of a selection to be picky over. By denying them my body I am forcing them to either go without or to re-look at these usable organs they would otherwise waste.

I think you are missing an important point which is not all transplants are immediately necessary. You can survive on dialysis without kidneys for years. So although they want a kidney, getting a bad kidney could kill them, where as waiting for a good one will keep them alive for longer. This is one of they reasons they are so strict on what they accept.

As for not bothering to donate because it is a waste and wouldn't make a difference, starfish on the shore is all i have to say.