People are removing themselves from the organ donation program at a rapid pace

https://www.medpagetoday.com/transplantation/transplantation/112622?xid=nl_mpt_investigative2024-10-30&mh=22c3cd8ebe0a923b5ca6e6e20f1222e0&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=InvestivativeMD_10302024&utm_term=NL_Gen_Int_InvestigateMD_Active

Many of you have probably heard of the 2021 case in Kentucky where a man was set to donate his organs after being declared “brain dead” only to wake up enroute to the OR for his organs to be procured. This information just came to light last month during a senate hearing. Three years and zero media news about it.

In light of the Kentucky case, the number of people requesting to be removed from the organ donation list has risen exponentially. They are fielding numerous calls and online requests each day.

Something else is triggering this as well.

Numerous people have been watching a few physicians report that organ donation brain death declaration is not always accurate, the donor can feel pain during the procedure, and that the line between “dead and alive” may be blurry and people who were declared brain dead may not necessarily have never woken up.

Additionally, numerous people (such as myself) removed their names from organ donation during covid. Why? They required anyone getting a transplant to get a covid shot. I removed my name a year ago when I renewed my drivers license. I had it taken off my license, AND contacted the DonateLife Missouri and filled out the forms requesting my name be removed from the donor list.

I have a feeling we are going to learn a lot about organ donation that is not necessarily good news in the coming years. Choose your organ donation status accordingly. Let those around you know if you want to donate or not. Because hospitals WILL pressure your family to donate. (I watched it happen more times than I can count). They play on the grief of your loved one dying, about how they can “live on” by saving the life of another. Make sure you make your intentions known and your family to advocate for you.