Doing good in death

How do you feel about donating your organ's after you die? It's certainly something that has crossed your mind at one point or another. Whether you're for it or against it, chances are the act to become a registered organ donor has incurred some sort of stall on the process. I'm 24 years old, and I'm a long way off planning my death.

But if the US or the UK had an 'opt-out' system, like most of Europe, then things would be a different story. In a 'soft' opt-out system, like Spain, Italy and France, you would have to write or express before dying that you are against donating your organs. However, when it comes times to discuss donation, your family would also have a say, and even if you were for it, they could have a right to deny the donation. In most countries, something around 85% of families adhere to their dead relative's wishes, while only 15% reject them. In a 'hard' opt-out system (like in Austria), the family is not consulted. Spain is recognized as the leader in organ donations.

Why am I even talking about this? It's a strange thing to blog about, I suppose. The Observer this past Sun ran a huge story and are campaigning for the laws in the UK to be reformed to the soft opt-out system, like that of Spain. In the story, they revealed that the UK has the lowest transplants and donations in Europe, with three Britons dying each day waiting for an organ. They didn't have any facts or figures for the US, but I imagine it's not much better.

I remember one of my friend's saying that they'd never be a donor because they won't resuscitate you or attempt to save your life more than three times once your heart stopped beating, because they'd rather take your organs. Somehow I can't imagine this being the case. Especially since most paramedics aren't showing up with an organ donor truck following behind it.

I'm all for a change as well. If my organs could save five others, than my death would mean more than just my passing on. I'll say this right now, I might not be a registered organ donor, but I certainly would donate 'em all. I'm not taking them with me, that's for sure. And once I'm dead and all my organs that could be used were removed - cremate me, please!! I'm afraid of the dark. Don't stick my body in a box underground, nothing could sound worse.

Sorry for all the morbidity.