Should organ donation be made compulsory?
This issue is at the heart of the medical system, with the growing number of patients on waiting lists for transplants should those persons who die and are capable of providing usable organs be made to do so? (well their families anyway). Already doctors are able to ask the dead person's relatives whether they can use the organs, but should the law go as far as requiring the donation? One argument is that all usable organs should be made available, however the opposing argument notes the patient's right to autonomy and highlights that the choice is with them. We ask therefore whether a patient's autonomy extends past their death and should their body continue to be respected? Or should we go for the greater good and help all those waiting for help, which they are able to provide? Especially if the person involved later is cremated.
You may say that some of those people on the waiting list don't deserve the help because they require a transplant after self-indulgence, but for many people their need is through illness or defect.
If it should not be made compulsory, should more people be aware of the option?
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I think its generally accepted that it should not be. There are abundant religious and moral reasons, plus most recently the scandal of retaining dead baby organs in that childrens' hospistal in Liverpool illustrates what happens when consent is not given - the grounds are still the same. The way I see it is that unless the dead person has no family (or a family that doesn't mind), and the we have full understanding of the dead person's beliefs, permitting organ donation, only then should we *consider* the donation. Belief/permssion is currently done via a donor card in the UK, although the family's belief is ignored if in the case of the donor having such as a card
I reckon we should have an opt-out scheme for donor cards rather than an opt-in system. That way. those against it can opt-out, and those who don't care will still have one.
So if you're an child/disabled/invalid tough luck your organs will be donated? I don't think so. How easy will it be for a hosdpital to check on a person's identity who is on a life support and likely to die? I'm all for organ donation but having the system tell you what it is doing with your body by default should not be allowed.
So... if criminals are required to donate their organs, is that not implying that only bad people must donate? Is it a wrong/immoral thing? A type of punishment? Or is it just taking away the right to autonomy and the right to choose what happens to your body? If you are a criminal do these rights not apply?!
Some may argue that everyone has a right to autonomy. The question probably is how wide does this right extend, and therefore does it extend to the right to choose whether or not to donate your organs?
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