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To: BykrBayb

Organs, in this country, are not harvested while people are alive. There is a very clear definition of death that must be met before any organs may be harvested.

You, apparently, have a different definition of the point at which death occurs in human beings. I agree with the current medical definition of death, and am an organ donor. I hope that, when I die, or if I die in an accident or some other way that brings me to brain death, as it is defined currently, my organs will be of some use to others.

You differ in your opinion. So, apparently, does Ahayes differ from you in that regard. There is a huge difference between someone who is walking around, breathing and talking, and someone who shows no brain activity.

The decision to harvest organs for transplant purposes is not made lightly. It is a very serious decision, and involves family members, medical professionals, and others. All must agree.

It does not, however, involve people who are not related to the donor, or involved in medical decisions, in any way. It does not involve protestors on the street. It does not involve religious leaders who have no direct connection to the donor or his/her family. Such people are not part of any of these decisions, and should not be.

You may, very easily, indicate your objection to organ donation through a living will and through communications with your relatives. If you do this, no organs will ever be harvested from you for transplantation in another human being. If you have strong feelings about this, then you should make every effort to let everyone involved with you know your wishes. They will be honored.

I also have strong feelings about these decisions. I have decided to be a donor. I have also decided that I do not wish any medical intervention if I am near the point of death. I have communicated this to all my family members, have a living will, a copy of which is in my wallet at all times, and hope that my death will result in organs being transplanted in others who need them to continue their lives, or to make their lives more livable.

What you wish to do is to deny me my wishes. I, on the other hand, have no wish to deny you your wishes in this regard. Do you see the difference? I make no decisions in this matter for anyone other than myself and my wife, who also has a living will and has communicated her wishes to me and the rest of her family.

Leave me alone to decide for myself, please. Also, please to not suggest that someone who feels as I do commit suicide to hurry the process along. That is ugly.

Finally, since you are so set against organ donation, and the process required to harvest usable organs, I assume you will never accept an organ donation from another person. That would be, in my opinion, hypocrisy.


467 posted on 09/17/2006 12:24:36 PM PDT by MineralMan (Non-evangelical Atheist)
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To: MineralMan

In this country, organs are routinely harvested from people that are alive.


468 posted on 09/17/2006 12:41:41 PM PDT by candeee
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To: MineralMan; ahayes

Straw man, I have not, and do not object to organ donation. I object to harvesting organs from people who are still using them. This is not about any difference of opinion about the defintion of death. It is about harvesting organs from people while they are still alive. If you can't keep up, maybe you could just sit in the corner and read, until you figure out what the conversation is about.


469 posted on 09/17/2006 12:55:57 PM PDT by BykrBayb (Be careful what you ask for, and even more careful what you demand. Þ)
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