They can take my lungs and kidneys but my heart belongs to Daphne
June 28, 2004 1:20 AM Subscribe
Give my body to medical science (If medical science will have me).
This might make owning a donor card somewhat academic (for UK humans at least), but until then I am making sure it's something I not longer perpetually forget to do. How to become an organ donor; or sign up online.
(Provide a link for your own homeland please!)
This might make owning a donor card somewhat academic (for UK humans at least), but until then I am making sure it's something I not longer perpetually forget to do. How to become an organ donor; or sign up online.
(Provide a link for your own homeland please!)
Here in Finland, there is no organ donor register, you just sign a donor card. You can get blank cards from health stations, apothecaries, medical practices, the Finnish Red Cross blood transfusion service, Lahja elämälle and, conveniently enough, from gas-stations.
posted by lazy-ville at 3:39 AM on June 28, 2004
posted by lazy-ville at 3:39 AM on June 28, 2004
Germany has a similar system to the one lazy-ville described.
posted by tcp at 4:06 AM on June 28, 2004
posted by tcp at 4:06 AM on June 28, 2004
For Americans, the Coalition on Donation site may be a good place to start reading up. </employer_plug>
posted by patgas at 5:57 AM on June 28, 2004
posted by patgas at 5:57 AM on June 28, 2004
If you can find a copy of Harper's Magazine March 2004, there is a really good article about the body trade.
The Resurrection Men
Scenes from the cadaver trade
Annie Cheney
posted by shoepal at 6:30 AM on June 28, 2004
The Resurrection Men
Scenes from the cadaver trade
Annie Cheney
posted by shoepal at 6:30 AM on June 28, 2004
Picked up Stiff from the bookstore the other day, and I'm promising to read it real soon.
posted by cratchit at 7:05 AM on June 28, 2004
posted by cratchit at 7:05 AM on June 28, 2004
Why is it that in America we have voter registration drives and blood drives but no "organ donor registration drives"? I suspect that most people would be willing to donate their organs if you asked them, though the prospect of knowing that your organs will be automatically harvested as part of the routine practice of your national health system in the event of your death might strike people as a little creepy.
posted by deanc at 7:09 AM on June 28, 2004
posted by deanc at 7:09 AM on June 28, 2004
An under-examined fear is that of organ harvesting. I've never heard of any name given to such a phobia, though it is an integral part of many primitive religions, some still extant. However, I suspect that it is far more widespread in society than currently known.
In a voluntary organ-donation program, or even a passive "opt out" system, such a phobia can be ignored; but if organ donation becomes mandatory, I could imagine extreme panic on the part of those afflicted. Even dangerous panic.
I could forsee phobic individuals going so far as to contaminating their bodies with non-injurious diseases that make them unsuitable for donation. This puts them in the same catagory as those who have had such diseases naturally. It becomes even more problematic for both groups if the diseases are not routinely checked for--it serves no one if unsuitability is not known.
"I cannot serve as an organ donor" card?
posted by kablam at 8:23 AM on June 28, 2004
In a voluntary organ-donation program, or even a passive "opt out" system, such a phobia can be ignored; but if organ donation becomes mandatory, I could imagine extreme panic on the part of those afflicted. Even dangerous panic.
I could forsee phobic individuals going so far as to contaminating their bodies with non-injurious diseases that make them unsuitable for donation. This puts them in the same catagory as those who have had such diseases naturally. It becomes even more problematic for both groups if the diseases are not routinely checked for--it serves no one if unsuitability is not known.
"I cannot serve as an organ donor" card?
posted by kablam at 8:23 AM on June 28, 2004
The sad side of "Organ donating" is that your body is usually chopped up and sold on a sort of black market, not necessarily donated. Amusingly, like a car, our bodies are worth more in pieces than as a whole. The Harper's article I refer to above, which I can't find anywhere online, details the underground body trade where torsos go for a couple grand, because doctors prefer to train/practice on human flesh in lieu of the old standby, pigs.
It's been several months since I read the article, but the gist of it was that funeral homes sell their bodies to brokers who have struck deals with universities and private companies who wish to use them in demonstrating new techniques and new equipment. There are only a handful of body brokers, but it seems to be an up and coming industry.
A friend of mine died recently and donated his body to the university. Apparently, they came and picked it up just after he passed. Whether or not they actually used it or sold him in parts to other schools, I can't say.
Given that we live in such a commerce driven society, I'm surprised a company hasn't created a system whereby you can trade your body(parts) to offset the costs of funeral services.
posted by shoepal at 8:49 AM on June 28, 2004
It's been several months since I read the article, but the gist of it was that funeral homes sell their bodies to brokers who have struck deals with universities and private companies who wish to use them in demonstrating new techniques and new equipment. There are only a handful of body brokers, but it seems to be an up and coming industry.
A friend of mine died recently and donated his body to the university. Apparently, they came and picked it up just after he passed. Whether or not they actually used it or sold him in parts to other schools, I can't say.
Given that we live in such a commerce driven society, I'm surprised a company hasn't created a system whereby you can trade your body(parts) to offset the costs of funeral services.
posted by shoepal at 8:49 AM on June 28, 2004
I'll give my body to medical science, if medical science will have me, they can take my lungs and kidneys, but my heart belongs to Daphne, DAPHNE!
Source of this possibly intended quote
posted by fruitbat at 8:54 AM on June 28, 2004
Source of this possibly intended quote
posted by fruitbat at 8:54 AM on June 28, 2004
With an "opt-out" system, what happens if someone wants to opt out but doesn't have their driver's license with them when they show up at the hostpital?
posted by Stoatfarm at 8:57 AM on June 28, 2004
posted by Stoatfarm at 8:57 AM on June 28, 2004
Not really addressing the issue but I would rather someone trained/practiced on my naturally deceased torso than killed a pig for the same purpose, and possibly to less useful ends.
posted by ed\26h at 8:58 AM on June 28, 2004
posted by ed\26h at 8:58 AM on June 28, 2004
With an "opt-out" system, what happens if someone wants to opt out but doesn't have their driver's license with them when they show up at the hostpital?
As with the current "opt-in" system, having a donor card or the "organ donor" notice on your driver's license is only half -- and in fact not even the important half -- of the equation. If you have an opinion on the matter, it is important that you make your feelings known to the people who will be called upon to make decisions for you when you are incapacitated to the point that such information becomes relevant.
Talk to your next(s) of kin. Have an advance directive. Don't just talk about organ donation (or full body donations, which is what shoepal was talking about) talk about whether or not you want advanced life-support, talk about when you want them to stop fighting the inevitable, talk about the worst-case scenario. Make sure that you understand what your loved ones want, and that they understand what you want. It can save many hours of agonizing in a hospital waiting room or (tens of) thousands of dollars of unnecessary expense when matters are settled before the need arises.
posted by Dreama at 9:59 AM on June 28, 2004
As with the current "opt-in" system, having a donor card or the "organ donor" notice on your driver's license is only half -- and in fact not even the important half -- of the equation. If you have an opinion on the matter, it is important that you make your feelings known to the people who will be called upon to make decisions for you when you are incapacitated to the point that such information becomes relevant.
Talk to your next(s) of kin. Have an advance directive. Don't just talk about organ donation (or full body donations, which is what shoepal was talking about) talk about whether or not you want advanced life-support, talk about when you want them to stop fighting the inevitable, talk about the worst-case scenario. Make sure that you understand what your loved ones want, and that they understand what you want. It can save many hours of agonizing in a hospital waiting room or (tens of) thousands of dollars of unnecessary expense when matters are settled before the need arises.
posted by Dreama at 9:59 AM on June 28, 2004
I'm glad there's all you altruists out there willing to donate...but for me, no sir...you put the whole damn thing in the fire. I'm leaving nothing here but ashes when I go. I, and many others, believe that as long as part of my remains are still in existence, then I have not shuffled off the mortal coil, and I'm stuck here until I can get them all rounded up and baptized by sweet, sweet fire. And I'm so not the ghost you want hanging around waiting for you to die...so I think it's best if nobody come near my corpse with a knife.
That said, I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't accept an organ donation either...for the same reasons. Of course, I have the luxury of saying that from an philosophic plateau of not *needing* an organ.
I'd also like to second what Dreama said...it's imperative that you have instructions written down and that you have clearly defined them to your family, executors, lawyers and doctors.
posted by dejah420 at 10:24 AM on June 28, 2004
That said, I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't accept an organ donation either...for the same reasons. Of course, I have the luxury of saying that from an philosophic plateau of not *needing* an organ.
I'd also like to second what Dreama said...it's imperative that you have instructions written down and that you have clearly defined them to your family, executors, lawyers and doctors.
posted by dejah420 at 10:24 AM on June 28, 2004
Talk to your next(s) of kin. Have an advance directive.
So, those with no immediate family, family overseas (or just on vacation), those with unmarried or same-sex partners whose wishes are frequently not honored, the homeless, the mentally-ill, people who can't afford lawyers: What happens to all of these people under an "opt-out" system?
posted by Stoatfarm at 10:28 AM on June 28, 2004
So, those with no immediate family, family overseas (or just on vacation), those with unmarried or same-sex partners whose wishes are frequently not honored, the homeless, the mentally-ill, people who can't afford lawyers: What happens to all of these people under an "opt-out" system?
posted by Stoatfarm at 10:28 AM on June 28, 2004
Just donated everything.
What the hell. I'm not going to need them anymore..
posted by gfrobe at 10:57 AM on June 28, 2004
What the hell. I'm not going to need them anymore..
posted by gfrobe at 10:57 AM on June 28, 2004
FWIW, I'm pro-donation. I just want people to know that their altruism may simply serve to line the pocket(s) of funeral homes/mortuaries, shady body part dealers, medical equipment corporations and Universities.
This thread reminds me of the (so-so) film Dirty Pretty Things.
posted by shoepal at 11:46 AM on June 28, 2004
This thread reminds me of the (so-so) film Dirty Pretty Things.
posted by shoepal at 11:46 AM on June 28, 2004
When I die, I want my fleshy bits sent wherever they will be useful, and my bones carefully cleaned (aren't there beetles that will do this?) and kept as souvenirs by my family and friends. Any extra bones should be donated to anatomy professors.
If no family or friends want my bones, they should articulate my whole skeleton and give it to an anatomy professor, or sell it on ebay.
Okay, I am a bone geek. Bones are too lovely to waste, imho.
posted by beth at 2:27 PM on June 28, 2004
If no family or friends want my bones, they should articulate my whole skeleton and give it to an anatomy professor, or sell it on ebay.
Okay, I am a bone geek. Bones are too lovely to waste, imho.
posted by beth at 2:27 PM on June 28, 2004
Talk to your next(s) of kin. Have an advance directive.
This is vital. No matter how many organ donor cards you carry or where you register your wishes to donate, your next-of-kin can override your decision (in Australia, anyway). Before organs can be taken, someone has to sign to give permission and, as you are unlikely to be in a position to do so, the decision is made by your nearest and dearest, who are not in the best frame of mind to make decisions, given your imminent or recent departure from the mortal coil. Make sure you have an advanced directive and make sure that your next-of-kin are aware that it exists and where it is.
posted by dg at 3:05 PM on June 28, 2004
This is vital. No matter how many organ donor cards you carry or where you register your wishes to donate, your next-of-kin can override your decision (in Australia, anyway). Before organs can be taken, someone has to sign to give permission and, as you are unlikely to be in a position to do so, the decision is made by your nearest and dearest, who are not in the best frame of mind to make decisions, given your imminent or recent departure from the mortal coil. Make sure you have an advanced directive and make sure that your next-of-kin are aware that it exists and where it is.
posted by dg at 3:05 PM on June 28, 2004
Fruitbat: Jimbob presentin'. How many other people around here have nicks stolen from forgotten early '90s bands?
posted by Jimbob at 7:00 PM on June 28, 2004
posted by Jimbob at 7:00 PM on June 28, 2004
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posted by ed\26h at 1:21 AM on June 28, 2004