To donate or not to donate...

PM backs automatic organ donation

As a Christian, I of course believe that when I die I go to be with Christ...this has made my decision to carry a doner card over the years an exceptionally easy one...I really won't need this old body...I get a new one!!!

So...I have carried an organ doner card for the last twenty five years.

However, if this goes ahead, I shall (sadly) stop. And instead carry whatever I need to prevent them from using my organs.
Not because I am worried about some over enthusiastic doctor turning my life support off (although I would not rule that out!) or that I think they might whip out my kidneys while I am still breathing my last on the operating table...
But because I believe that it is not the state's place to decide what happens to my body after death!

I have struggled since the last change in the law, when they removed the rights of my wife or other relatives to go against my wishes...
My wife has always agreed with my decision to donate my organs (as I have hers) but in the moment of grief...yes, in that irrational moment of suffering, I wanted her to have the right to say "no!" - the right to be irrational...the right to change her mind...


...is this attitude selfish?...probably...

...is it logical?...probably not...

...but at my death, do my family's wishes come first?...too right they do!!!

Who do I care most about; who would I be most concerned about if I should die tomorrow? Surprise, surprise, it is my wife and children!

But I have managed to push this aside for what I suppose I belived is the greatest good...

...but now?

This proposed change might very well push me over the edge...sorry Mr Brown...hands off...

I say might...because there's a line in the BBC report...

unless people opted out of the register or family members objected,

(my emphases)

Is it possible that our government might be backtracking on this?

If this truly means that they would once more allow the wishes of relatives to take their rightful place, perhaps I can remain a doner...it would be against the trend of our nanny state, but let us hope!


organ donation health ethics rights christianity government state