The Geek Forum
Main Forums => Anarchy => Topic started by: 12AX7 on June 20, 2008, 11:44:50 PM
-
Personally, they can have whatever. It's not like I'm gonna be needing anything. I've heard some people who have a real issue with the idea, though, and not all are religion-based. I've also heard the "conspiracy theory" of delayed or withheld emergency services upon discovery of your donor status, etc.
theFOO joked about it in another thread, then I was asked about it again today when I (finally) got my motorcycle license; and I began wondering what the general concensus here was about the whole idea of organ, tissue, and cadaver donation. Such things as if it makes a difference to you if they only want certain parts, or all teh parts, or if you'd donate your entire body; if it makes a difference to you if your remains (if donated) are used for medical purposes, or educational (science), etc.
As for me, as I said above, I don't really care. There's probably not much they could actually use for medical purposes; but if they need something for med students to practice sawing on; I'm game. My eyes (had Lasik), my heart/lungs (I smoke two substances; sustained, and get very little aerobics exercise), my liver (I've eaten so much Vivarin, Ibuprofen, Aspirin, Goody's, and other assorted substances that I doubt it's healthy enough to survive an Xplant), my tissues ( @40yo, my tissues aren't currently in any shape to help ANYone... unless they want a pulled hamstring or inflamed illiotibial band; take it).
As for the emergency services being witheld, etc; I should probably just post that in "The Absolutely Stupidest Thing I've Heard In a While" thread. It's a ridiculous notion to start with; on top of being currently totally impossible.
-
No offense, but um, if you smoke, they don't want your organs. It kind of... defeats the purpose. I suppose you could write it in to your living will that you want your organs to go to science if you really wanted to be charitable though. They would love that. :-P
Anyway, I'm an organ donor, I will happily sign a DNR, and what they don't use I want to be cremated. Cemeteries are too damn crowded these days anyway.
As for that whole delayed emergency services thing...... It's a ridiculous notion to start with...
-
I'm not an organ donor, but I don't really have any good reason not to be. While I'm not religious I am spiritual and just feel that all of me should be put in the ground when I'm gone. I doubt that my organs would be much use by the time I am through with them. Also I plan on having a green funeral so I'd rather have all parts of me involved in it. I know I won't really care when I'm dead, but I guess it's more of a I want this for myself while I have a choice in the matter.
With that said I would change my mind if I got something like A.L.S. or Parkinsons. Then I believe my body could be used for something within science to go ahead and poke around to figure something out.
-
I'm a donor as well. As I see it, if I'm done using it, someone else might as well. I'm also planning on being cremated, or possibly mulched.
The reason I made the donor wise crack in the thread about your new bike is that statistically you're more likely to be seriously injured/killed on a bike. A friend of mine who was an EMT in NYC calls them donorcycles. :-)
All this may become a moot point if Ray Kurzweil's (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Kurzweil) singularity theories come to pass. On top of all that various trends in bio/chem/genetic research are pointing toward a future of replacement parts or even whole bodies. It's more than likely that within the next 5-20 years huge advances in medical science are going to occur that will blow our minds.
-
Your comment on Kurzweil's theory made me think of the article below. Looks like they are already looking into uploading a rats brain. Obviously that's a less complex mind than a human's, but it's a nice first step.
http://www.newscientist.com/channel/opinion/death/mg19626251.800-death-special-the-plan-for-eternal-life.html?feedId=death_rss20 (http://www.newscientist.com/channel/opinion/death/mg19626251.800-death-special-the-plan-for-eternal-life.html?feedId=death_rss20)
-
The reason I made the donor wise crack in the thread about your new bike is that statistically you're more likely to be seriously injured/killed on a bike. A friend of mine who was an EMT in NYC calls them donorcycles. :-)
Oh, I got that, lol. I basically grew old hanging with the biker crowd; the Harley/Indian cruiser culture. I know five people (two of which were a couple) who've died in motorcycle accidents; and a few more injured and one crippled from the waist down. He spends his life in a wheelchair in bars now; staying either roasted on his meds or toasty drunk or both. He's a great guy, but he kept running over my footpedal onstage when we were playing there and unplugging my guitar. By accident, of course; and we never said anything about it because he was just headbanging and rocking out; causing the chair to roll this way and that, lol.
Anyway; I lolled at your joke, but I thought it might make a good thread; since not everyone will just post (or think) "me too."
-
I'm not so much of an organ donor rather than an organ lender.
-
I'm not so much of an organ donor rather than an organ lender.
wow, what about being an organ trader? Like trading 1/2 a lung for a second liver?
I have actually worked on cadavers before, shortly after which I decided that ditch my medical career and go into business. I don't think I'd be okay being a cadaver- I think it would be difficult for anyone I left behind. Regardless, I am an organ donor because it is really important and I'll have no use for any of it.
-
I'm not so much of an organ donor rather than an organ lender.
Top in the morning, do ya! I mean.. Top of the morning to ya! :-D
-
Oh, I got that, lol. I basically grew old hanging with the biker crowd; the Harley/Indian cruiser culture. I know five people (two of which were a couple) who've died in motorcycle accidents; and a few more injured and one crippled from the waist down. He spends his life in a wheelchair in bars now; staying either roasted on his meds or toasty drunk or both. He's a great guy, but he kept running over my footpedal onstage when we were playing there and unplugging my guitar. By accident, of course; and we never said anything about it because he was just headbanging and rocking out; causing the chair to roll this way and that, lol.
Anyway; I lolled at your joke, but I thought it might make a good thread; since not everyone will just post (or think) "me too."
Ouch... :-( That sucketh.
-
Ouch... :-( That sucketh.
Nah. I'd just plug back in, everybody'd chuckle, and we kep on rockin'.
-
I have actually worked on cadavers before
So have I, and the trial afterwards was the talk of the town!
-
Nah. I'd just plug back in, everybody'd chuckle, and we kep on rockin'.
I meant the dead people, but whatever. :-)
-
I don't want my organs touching some sick guy.
-
I'm an organ donor. Once I transcend this body and become an all-powerful entity of pure energy and thought, I won't be needing this filthy meatsack anymore. I'll be ruling the world from my mile high fortress of power and causing the rest of the lower lifeforms of this puny planet to shudder and hide from my wrath.
EDIT:
To add the bit about ruling the world.
-
lol
"So you rule the World???"
"Yeh. It was kind of an afterthought, actually."