Too few people donate their organs, dead or alive. How can we make it easier

worksinprogress.co

1 point·bswud··3 comments

I'm nearly 50 and a UK (England) resident all that time. When I applied for my driving licence at age 16 I was given the opportunity to put myself on the National Donor Register as every applicant at the time was.

Since then the UK has done more[¹] to help the uptake, but still we need more people to donate.

As a motorcycle rider I'm very much aware that I'm in a position to help others when the almost-inevitable happens. I carry a dog tag saying my name, DOB, blood group, 'NKA' 'ATHEIST' and responsible person's phone number. That's my choice, but when I bought my last helmet there was a card to put in the lining with such details, and a small green sticker dot to put on my visor to indicate to paramedics that the information was there.

Awareness of organ donation should be taught in schools because it can help people at no cost to the dying person (religious fantasies notwithstanding).

[¹] https://www.gov.uk/government/news/driving-up-organ-donation...

I'm in the US. When I was obtaining medical power of attorney for a family member my attorney advised me to not opt for organ donation because if they don't use the organ, the donor or the estate will be charged for the removal, storage and disposal. This should be in bold print at the top of the form. If donation drops as a result maybe the medical establishment shoudn't do that.

Make them feel safe the cord won't be pulled on them, unless there is absolute certainly they are in a unrecoverable state. At least for me talk of new developments where medics don't wait for brain death is scary: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989937?form=fpf

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