Finally someone got this idea in the head of a PM. Howard dismissed without a blink and thankfully Rudd had a heart valve replacement so the need for improvement was lodged in his head to start with.

Many people are dying because you are to lazy educate yourself on the topic and it doesn't help that individuals are 'squeamish' and think it's 'icky'. The following article uses the term 'mandatory' which is just wrong. There is nothing mandatory about the Opt-Out system. It's still voluntary. My only issue with the proposal to Rudd is that I didn't see anything about the donors wishes for donation SHOULD NOT be able to be reversed by the next of kin.

My other concern is that this idea was lodged by an individual, not by official organisations. But at least it's lodged....finally.

I appreciate there's people out who are totally against it, and good for you. All you have to do is Opt-Out. Simple eh?.

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23571441-5016510,00.html

Yes I am all in favour for all Australian being listed as organ donators and if on Religious grounds you did not agree then you have to make a declaration that you wish to OPT out.

Hi StG,
I have always been a proponent for the opt-out system because it saves many more lives.
What else is going to happen to your organs after you die? They will either be cremated, eaten by worms or rot away in the ground.

It’s heartbreaking that there are so many patients on very long waiting lists (I believe it’s about 4-5 years for a kidney) and simply don’t make it because of the long wait.
An opt-out system will provide many more organs to patients who desperately need them.

I think that most religions are in favour of organ donations- ain’t it the very last good deed one can do?

I fully agree also that the next of kin should not be able to reverse the wishes of the donor.
Since my body will be useless to me after I die, I will donate my whole body to scientific research.

Celivia

Totally agree. I'm on the full body donation thing as well. Never been able to understand what the issue is about possibly saving a life when one has died.

Definitely should be an opt-out system for people who really have a problem with the idea.

The woeful thing at present is that even if a deceased person has registered for organ donation, their relatives can still have final say - how screwed up is that?

StG,
I am surprised that only 3 people found it worthwhile to express their views on such an important issue, given the numbers of anti-abortionist on past abortion threads.
One would've thought that saving lives or rescuing people from a horrible death would be on their priority list.

Just wanted to say this before this thread will be locked.

Quite so, Celivia. I've always thought that organ donation is literally a no-brainer. Once you're dead, your body is effectively a lump of meat, bone and organs that have to be disposed of.

If any of it can help the living, why not?

And it is quite interesting that there has been little discussion about this important topic thus far.