Celivia, maybe rather than disqualifying somebody it would reduce their priority on any waiting list.

A formula based on the period someone has been elligible to consent to donate vs the period they have been registered to do so. If there is no waiting list for an organ then give it to whoever, otherwise priority for those with a history of support organ donation.

Children included regardless.

There is a part of me that fails to see why it should not be compulsary, each time I consider how little say I have in regards to the tax on my income (which I could use) I fail to see anything more morally pressing about having a say over the use organs which are no longer required are put to. Different thread I know but the thought sticks.

R0bert

You are correct in assuming that I consider humans to be no more worthy of ‘inheriting the earth’ than other animals.
The fact is I totally agree with you on this issue and that the world has too many people in it.

Celiva
I think you could all lobby the Government as I said to make it a standard question on medi care. After that we should leave it up to the Drs to make the calls.
One would assume not everybody would be suitable. I dont think we should be [let go] either just becuase we ae not spring chickens.
I dont know I just get an awful feeling about talking about humans as spare parts.
Remember we have millions starving to death in third world countries.
What about making the pill mandatory before we sent more aid!

gbgirp has some good points as well

ok so The Government DO make it a requirement on the medi care form. What then? Who is going to pay for it The ops?
Well we had best start to think about that one too.
What a nightmere. I guess we might all be charged some extra tax to sit next to our transplant in case its required. The transplant retirment fund and if you draw it out before you dont get treatment.
Kind of like a second life insurance.
Mmm We are self centered when you put it that way.
Whats Steve Fieldings policy on organs. Anybody know?

TRTL
Yes, I think that this idea would certainly encourage people to choose to become donors. I agree with you that children under 18 should always be eligible for organ transplants.
I can imagine that a discussion on ‘what to do with the children’ could be a heated one, especially when it comes to religious parents making decisions for their children that I believe they should not be allowed to make.
For example, children of Jehova Witness’ parents can be denied a blood transfusion and this can result in death. I assume if they do not allow blood transfusions they won’t be too happy if their child would receive an organ either. The parent's choice of a religion, cult or sect should not be a reason to let their child unnecessarily die.

I also agree with jbgirp about his concern connected to organ donations that many people do not have a healthy lifestyle, and it would make a good discussion in itself along with PALE’s question on how this is going to be financed and with RObert’s sub-topic that organ donation should be compulsary- part of me feels the same way, but another part of me is probably too democratic to push this that idea much . I’m not sure that Rex likes these subtopics being discussed on his thread.

RObert
“…maybe rather than disqualifying somebody it would reduce their priority on any waiting list”
Great idea, I like it. Seems very fair! It may be comparable with what health funds are doing: you can make a claim only when you’ve been a contributor for a certain period of time.

Celivia writes: I’m not sure that Rex likes these subtopics being discussed on his thread.
That's the whole point about human debates. we argue about things in isolation, whereas nothing occurs in isolation. A coalminer's overtime in Queensland contributes to lung cancer in a Chinese child. My neighbour's garden lights that he insists "He can afford", are contributing to the increase in Indian Ocean hurricanes that are destroying the infrastructure of the island of Reunion. It didn't matter too much when humans numbered only millions, but with 7,000,000,000 of us and doubling every decade or less, things are seriously our of balance! Unless humans address all possible consequences of their actions, we are doomed to extinction.

You are quite right, jbgirp. I also find it quite hard to stick to just the one aspect of this wide spectrum.

Rex said, "Perhaps a reminder is appropriate. This thread isn't about whether anyone should be forced to be an organ donor. The question is whether a person should signify their willingness by saying "yes". Or opting out by saying "No"."

Perhaps Rex won't mind if we take the discussion a bit further after we have given our opinion about the opt-in vs opt-out question.

Definitely "opt in" for me, although organ donation is something I've never really thought about too much. I used to donate blood and have made close to 70 donations, but haven't given for twelve months. As a previous poster pointed out, even the simple and generous act of donating blood has been made so much harder and it's only the dedicated few that give any longer. The large regional city where I used to donate is severly overcrowded since Red Cross shut down many smaller collection centers in the name of saving the mighty dollar and now whinge because they can't find enough donars. Everything is about money these days and I suspect organ donation is in pretty much the same boat.
Medical ethics vary considerably from hospital to hospital and it wouldn't surprise me if doctors were purposely preventing certain sections of the community from obtaining organs because of low socio-economic standard, perceived body "mistreatment" or age, so I prefer to keep my organs in case I need to direct them to my kids, grand kids or a close family member. Also, I live in a remote rural location and have a friend in a similar position. The place where she works was visited by people trying to attract organ donation and when she volunteered her organs should she die an untimely death, she was told that organ donation is usually only suitable for people who have died reasonably close to emergency facilities and considering where she lives, she would be wasting her time filling out the form. (Not the exact words, but close enough). At least this post caused me to think about organ donation.