h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

This forum is getting most informative - would somebody consider taking on an entry on this subject? *Takes a smart pace backwards*

Opt out scheme I'm all in favour of ... I've registered as a blood donor but have yet to give blood (all bad timing) and I've sent of for details on registering for the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust ... the way I see it is that if you've got it and someone else needs it and it's not going to damage you giving them some of yours, where's the problem?

I used to be anti-donating various parts of my body but as time's progressed I figure, if the time arises that I can help someone, I'd want to give them a chance ...

Untested blood gets transfused? That's scary.

I don't think an opt-out policy would work. It might encourage *too many* people to donate. Since diseases like AIDS can take 6 months after exposure before they show up in the tests, it is far safer to wait for people who know they are OK to donate, even if they have to do it over and over. With an opt-out policy, some people might donate partly because they don't want to explain why they shouldn't. Of course the current system results in shortages, but the blood drives usually seem to bring out enough donors.

I tried donating plasma once. The nurse told me to never do it again. It increased my fear of needles (you get them in both arms, tubes leading to and from a machine). I saw bubbles in one of the tubes, and my head filled up with stories from bad TV shows about how bubbles in the blood stream will kill you, the nurse turned on the machine, the bubbles started traveling towards my arm, and that's the last thing I remember for several minutes.

What are the criteria for donating plasma and where can you do it?

Rama

Criteria number 1: Don't pass out.
The rest of the criteria is much like being a blood donor.

I tried to do it at the local hospital.

When I said I agreed with the opt out thing, I was meaning organs rather than blood. Blood you can only do, I assume, when you're alive whereas organs are no use to you dead but could help other people should you move on to other places ...

I don't know all the facts behind organ donation but it would figure that they'd have to be fairly fresh (ie can't be stored) so you can't exactly stock-pile them but in the event of an emergency their would be a greater chance of finding one if everyone was opted-in unless they decided to opt out.

I agree someone should make this into an entry. Then everone who contributed would be a hero.

Still nobody has answered my question. How do I ensure what organs are taken and not taken from me?

And as for the blood, I think the standard procedure is to test the blood for AIDS. It would of course be stupid to just ask the guy if he has been tested. Sorry not guy, person of non-specific gender. I suppose I shouldn´t offend any from the grammatical gender thread.

In Washington, you can specify an organ to donate. But I suppose once you're dead you can't really oversee the process.

In the UK the organ donor cards are still Kidney donor cards, and they have bits for chosing what you want to leave on there. I joined the national register, and said take anything they need. I don't carry a card, as they check that when someone dies in the right circumstances.

I'm hoping that they abide by your wishes ... If you say you want to keep your corneas then they should leave them alone ... there's no way you can check I agree but I'd hope that they'd respect the wishes of the dead.

I'm hoping that by the time it comes for me to move on, most of my internal bits will be beyond the use of anyone else - but then I guess we all do. I'm leaving everything in the event that I don't make it as far as I hope to.

One question I'd have to ask would be, if you die of natural causes having lead a full life, none of your bits may be of any use to anyone but does the fact that you carry a donor card mean you automatically get forwarded to the department for advances in medical science or is that a seperate issue all together?

Nope, donating organs and donating your body to medical research/education are different issues altogether. If you donate your organs, they sew you back up and the body gets buried, cremated, whatever as per usual by your relatives. If you donate your body to science, your body is stuck in a freezer and then taken out when new medical students need to learn how to cut things up, and also to learn where all the organs and whatnot are. Your body may be shipped across the country, and it may be months before it is ultimately disposed.


Mikey

But at least your body gets the attention of a lot of young female students

I wanted to give blood but they say you have to weigh over 110 pounds and I don't
But not that I want to purposely gain weight or anything

I wanted to give blood yesterday, even made an appointment, registered and then they ask you if you've been out of Europe, N. America, Australia and some other places ...

Went to Mauritius in April. According to MASTA and the WHO Mauritius is not a Malarial area ... according to The National Blood Service it is ... first blood I can give is in May next year ...

Apart from registering your intent to donate whatever, make sure that your legal next of kin are aware of your wishes. In the UK, co-habitees are not recognised as next of kin automatically so talk it over with your immediate family as they would be asked for their permission at a traumatic time and it could be of some help to them if they knew you had firm views on this.

A cousin of mine died a few years ago and his family allowed his organs to be donated without any restrictions. He was young (27) and very healthy (he was out training for a competitive cycling event and got hit by a car).

*TWELVE* people got organs. I think it's amazing that one person can help so many.

Reading about the American's approach to possible malaria infection:
My friend lived in South Africa until she was 3, then came back to England. She went to give blood, aged 17, and was told she couldn't because she 'may have malaria'.
(She was actually more upset that she wouldn't get a toy as a 'reward', but a nurse felt sorry for her so she got one anyway.)

... I'm not American, but I know the feeling ...

Neither'm I- I recall the American approach to malaria is 'wait until it's safe' (earlier posting). How long is the incubation period, anyway? Surely not 14 years.