My father collapsed and could not be revived at his home in April, 2008. He was kept alive by the EMT crew, who transported him not to a hospital but a local medical clinic, where he was kept on life support, purportedy until the family could get there.
We were set upon instead, wanting consent to harvest not just organs but skin and bone. They were more relentless than the worst telemarketer, badgering really. He was an organ donor, but that was not enough for these, yes, ghouls. My mother consented to get them to go away, we were still in shock and tears and she wanted them to leave us be.
I was later quietly told by the funeral director that they really dislike working with the aftermath of this. There's often little left beyond hands and a head. How close to grave robbery are we willing to go, here?
I do not like this, not at all. It's morally suspect no matter how much benefit might be derived. The "gift of life" sounds very nice and it's not something that most would want to deny, but I've lived through the reality of it, and it's very dark.
There is a profit motive, and quite a large one from the near agitation of the sales pitch we received.
Thank you for sharing your story. I’m very sorry that you and your Mother had to go through that.
“My father collapsed...”
I am sorry what happened to you and your Mom on probably the worst day of her entire life. It is traumatic enough to lose your spouse and more traumatic to now wonder if she did what he “wished”. In your specific case and this post, there is a common theme: SWAY PEOPLE AT THEIR WEAKEST, MOST TRAUMATIZED MOMENTS in order to get what they want.
I have experience with the “body part thieves”. I have not recovered yet from the experience.