Most states in the US, and I'm sure most countries in the EU allow you to indicate whether you're willing to allow better use of your body once you're through with it on your driver's license.

I personally figure that once I'm dead, I'll not be using the meat part... ( I'm a geek... it's not like I spent much time there! ) If I can help out someone else, then so much the better. So I'm an organ donor. How about you?

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cb
Oooh! What does this button do!?

i registered to be signed up for the organ-donor program; apparently they sort everything out when you get your license renewed and are over 18. i'd like to think that once i'm gone, someone else will be able to get use out of the parts that i'm through with.

At last report, he was still using it and played a wicked version of "5'2, Eyes of Blue" by manipulating openings in his body.
You don't want to know how he played that high G!

(Sorry, I realize this is something of a morbid topic, but...)

There have been a number of cases where the family wanted to pull the plug on someone who was ummm... "not self-supporting" aka brain-dead but doctors refused to do so because of liability concerns.

I've been thinking of making out a living will. Given my lifestyle, it may even come in handy, although I hope not.

Max.

quote:

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Originally posted by Max Heck:
I've been thinking of making out a living will. Given my lifestyle, it may even come in handy, although I hope not.

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Oh? What do you do?

BTW, I'm an organ donor too. I'd like to think that after I'm gone, I'd still be of some help to society.

Like I said before, in Switzerland they are pushing towards an opt-out society where everyone is considered an organ donor unless you specify otherwise.

quote:

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Originally posted by Swiss Mercenary:
...What gets me upset is that I am not allowed to donate blood, yet they are screaming out for blood here.....I lived in the UK for over 6 months between 1980 and 2000.

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The Red Cross wouldn't take my blood either, and this was right after 9/11 and I'm a universal donor. Apparently, a trip to Venezuela within 3 years is a no-no. I had shots for Yellowfever, Hep A , Tetanus,and I ate the anit-malarial alka-seltzers for a month, but that wasn't sufficient. hope they like their new phones though,,,,

Back to the topic, I'm a organ donor, but it is sort of moot. EngrBohn is correct, in that most hospitals in the US never harvest until they can get a family member to agree to it first. They look at the yes mark on your drivers license as an invitation to ask the family, but little more.

No?

Guess I'll have to take up jogging. After that gives me an infarc the rest of my organs will probably be up too.

But do follow EngrBohn's advice. I did tell my dad my wishes should misfortune strike. The uncomfortable part was hearing his wishes.

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reality.sys corrupted. universe halted. reboot (y/n)?

I've also let everyone in the family know my wishes, just as a back-up.

quote:

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Originally posted by EddieKatz:
i am an organ donor, despite the fact that a girl i went to high school with who's now an emt told me that they don't work as hard to save you if you're an organ donor. personally, i think that's bullshit, but you wouldn't believe how many of my friends changed their status after she told us that.

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WTF???? I'm an EMT too and I've never even heard of that...that, that's disgusting! I really hope she was just pulling your leg (we like to do that to the uninitiated - it's fun to watch faces scrunch up). Otherwise she's working under some effed up protocols.
NB: sometimes we don't work as hard if it's obvious you aren't going to make it and no family is present (ie, sthe story a friend told me about a major car accident where the patient was trapped and pulseless and the car was so smooshed it took the firemen >10 minutes to extricate the poor dude. He was pronounced on scene). And, of course, if you can show me a DNR order (as in, pull out the originakl document, hand it to me and let me read it) I will honor your loved one's wishes and stop CPR. But I have to see it. It's not enough just to tell me it exists as I have no reason to believe a word you say and every reason to avoid a potential lawsuit and/or criminal trial.

I'm an organ donor and sometimes blood donor. Usually I can't donate 'cuz I'm prone to head colds. They like it when I do though. My bp's low but I can still fill the bag pretty quick.

quote:

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Originally posted by EddieKatz:
i am an organ donor, despite the fact that a girl i went to high school with who's now an emt told me that they don't work as hard to save you if you're an organ donor. personally, i think that's bullshit, but you wouldn't believe how many of my friends changed their status after she told us that.

red cross doesn't want my blood, either. veins are too small, clots up too fast, and literally takes a few hours before i can walk out of there. i have very low blood pressure, so i tend to pass out and they really don't like that. they said that it's the thought that counts, but not to come back. periodic visits to latin america also keep me on the blacklist.

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I specifically designated my butt to be donated to my sister who was tragically born without one. ::smirk::

Seriously, It seems almost unbelievable to me that anyone would refuse to do that. Would they even know the difference after all? It should be mandatory.