I am sorry for your loss, but in awe of you, and your son's compassion for donating. Well done you.

Thank you. Every year on his birthday I call for an update. One of his kidneys has died but we do not know the reason so it may not have been the kidney. The other kidney is failing so they back on the donor list. The liver and heart are alive and triving

Julie, good on you and your son!

*we have a knack for fluffing up everything

Jehovah’s witnesses forbid the sharing of blood. No blood transfusions, no organ transplants. They will stockpile their own blood and have it frozen, in case they may need a transfusion later.

NOT SO FAST: https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1980212?q=organ+transplants&p=par

People CAN still choose. The difference is what default we assume if you don't mark a choice. I think we should assume ppl want to save lives by donating something they aren't using, and you have to speak up if you dont want to, not the other way around.

One of the reason for the 'opt out' plan was that when college students were asked if they wanted to donate organs, an overwhelming majority said they did. When asked how many had registered as donors, it was a much smaller number. People always think they'll live forever, especially young ones.

I am so so happy to see that you've given such a thought out reply, because this comment was driving me up a wall. People are so thoughtless of others sometimes but I never have the energy to properly respond myself.

@Vicky Z: It’s so strange to read this...I had this very conversation with a woman I had just bought my sleep-aids from!

I'm not her if that what's you think though😅😅 I don't recall selling any sleep aids lately

Vicky Z, I’m going with strange coincidence on this one!

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"You don't need them when you are dead!" The necessity of an object does not change their property at all---I don't need this book, but it is still wrong for someone else to take it without your consent. The default state is that this book is mine--whether I need it or not. It is, I believe, unethical, for someone to change the default state and make that book theirs on default, even if I don't need it. I understand if you disagree. My point is that I think the opt-out system is a beggint-the-question fallacy.

Since you have the option to opt out i don't see a problem! In your example with the book i believe you wouldn't care if someone took the book after your death... I get what you are saying but the reason they do this is because nobody bothers to go and become a donor! However there is still an option to opt out

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"However there is still an option to opt out" Organs are yours and yours alone. If you want to donate them, you should choose to donate them. What this opt-out system does is assume that your organs are not yours, and that they will be automatically donated. What should be happening is you choose to donate your organs or not. It shouldn't automatically be that your organs are being donated, and that you could choose to take it out. I believe that the presumption the opt out system makes is unethical. "nobody bothers to go and become a donor!" Then convince them to become a donor, instead of nonconsensually assuming that They are giving away Their organs. Their organs are theirs. It should be their choice of donating them, instead of making their organs automatically being donated. The default state is that their organs are not donated. They can change this and choose to donate, but the default state should not be that their organs are being donated.

How can anything be "yours" after you're dead? There isn't a "you" left to have ownership. "You" are gone. All that's left is just a piece of meat that's going to start to rot soon, and other people need to figure out the best way to deal with that.

Tell us you're selfish, without telling us you're selfish.

I don't think it's an assumption that the organs are not yours! It's just a fact that you won't need them! It's just that simple! The doctors will still do anything they can to save you first they won't just unplug you to use the organs and most of the times organs cannot be used anyway! That's why they are trying to get more donors because no matter how much you inform people they still won't bother to make it formal and become donors

Just out of curiosity, what do you think would happen to your possessions after you are dead, assuming you hadn't left explicit instructions? Would they be all thrown away or buried? Would they be left to just sit and rot? There already is an "opt out" system for what happens to people's stuff and stewardships when they die. They aren't taking your stuff, they are changing the default in a system that already exists to deal with things that were previously yours if you have not made other arrangements.

If I had a book I didn't need, would never need, and was physically unaware of, I honestly wouldn't give a damn if someone took it because if it helps someone else and I don't truly lose anything, Id like to help them.

Oh shut up!!!

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Just because I don't need it doesn't give you the right to take it. I don't need anything after I die, but that does not mean you are entitled to any of my property, unless, of course, you were mentioned in a will or given the property by my consent. I believe this whole opt-out organ donation system is a begging-the-question fallacy.

In WA state you can now be legally composted.

There are no religions that forbid the transplant of organs. They may have restrictions such as Muslim to Muslim transplants, but none of the world major recognized religions have objections to transplants.

It is very noble of you to choose to donate your organs.

You know, there are a lot of countries where the default is donating. Mine included. This began being the default when I was a kid....in the beginning, it was a scandal...but now, we have a great ratio of transplants and people are in favour and agree with the law. Saving people is more important than a "complete corpse".