that other holiday

[desh]

Of course, today's not only Pitchers And Catchers Report Day for much of Major League Baseball. Today's also National Donor Day! There's still a huge shortage of donated organs worldwide, and no matter your age, I strongly encourage you to think about this, and to be an organ donor. You don't even have to fill out a form (though that helps too); all that matters is that your loved ones know your wishes. If you do want a form, though, here's one.

If you are an organ donor, please sound off here:

[Poll #1138384]

If you're not an organ donor, I'm not going to call you out in a poll, but please, if you're willing, post a comment about your decision so we can have a discussion about it. I feel quite strongly about this, and I'm curious about your opinion too.

Comments

[complexated.livejournal.com]

I am an organ donor, but I was wondering about your feelings about the Jewish traditions regarding bodies after death and how that fits in with being an organ donor. My personal belief is that if it can save a life then it is proper within the confines of Judaism.

[desh]

I agree with you. My only question about Jewish law's perspective on organ donation isn't wither it's permitted, but whether it's required. Jewish law permits breaking nearly any aspect of Jewish law in order to save a life.

I'm going to try to find some sources.

[desh]

The Halachic Organ Donation Society does a good job of addressing some of the common issues that are raised along these lines.

[metalphoenix.livejournal.com]

Um, I think I am an organ donor, because I selected that option when I got my license, but I never had to fill out that form. Is it different by state, or am I really not an organ donor and just have thought I was this entire time?

[desh]

Really, the only point of any of the forms and license designations is for me (or anyone) to convey my wishes to my family, my doctors, and any emergency medical workers I may encounter while unconscious and not with my family and my doctor. In general, there's nothing you have to mail off to anyone. (I misspoke in one of the poll options.)

So in your case you should be fine (as long as you've also talked about it with your family), but I was also mostly fine when my mom knew what I wanted but the license people had screwed up and not put the designation on my old license.

[metalphoenix.livejournal.com]

Ah okay. Thanks for the info :)

[platypuses.livejournal.com]

I have to say, the family members thing really annoys me the other way around: It's my impression that if you DO specify yourself as an organ donor, your family can still override your desire after death. Is that the case?

[desh]

I'm not sure of the law in the situation. But I'm picturing a doctor talking to family members of a recently deceased person who are insisting that organs not be donated, and I know I really don't want to be the doctor at that moment. If the doctor doesn't have clear law telling him what to do, I imagine he'd have a very hard time overruling the family.

Though I wonder if that works both ways too. Can a family overrule a patient's desire not to donate?

My mom knows a lot about this, since she works for a national organization that's very close to the donation process. I'll try to find out more from her.

[claire.livejournal.com]

I have told the boything that if I die and he doesn't immediately give permission for them to use all the bits that are remotely useful, I'm gonna come back to life and kick him in the nuts.

[rivka-m.livejournal.com]

About 6 years ago, during a learning session on halachot of organ donation, my chavruta got so excited realizing that she was allowed to be a donor after all that she left partway through to go sign up online for a HODS card.

[below-the-belt.livejournal.com]

i'm pretty sure that the family can override; keep in mind that it's not "your loved ones" in general who make the decision but specifically the next of kin or legal guardian [if under 18 or otherwise considered unable to make your own choices, such as severe mental disability] or spouse. so for example, for claire who has an ambiguous "boything," unless the relationship is legally defined as spousal, that boything can say whatever he wants but it won't help.

but while i'm pretty sure that the family can override organ donation as they can a 'do not resuscitate/do not intubate' order, the postmortem lecture was the first one we got in nursing school and it's fading fast.

curious what your mom says since it sounds like she knows better.

You can't take them with you...

[dredpiraterober.livejournal.com]

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