| Would you donate an organ?
Posted: 3/3/2009 8:59:02 AM | There's new legislation being proposed that would give you 13-26 weeks off work for donating a major organ. I'm curious as to how common organ donation is (as I've thought about being a donor myself). Post if you're a donor and what you've donated.
Would the proposed job security be a good incentive for you to donate your kidney or part of your liver? Or would you donate an organ regardless of any legislation to protect your job? | |
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| Would you donate an organ?
Posted: 3/3/2009 10:16:55 AM | So my guess would be that you would collect unemployment for 13 - 26 weeks.
A say comes to mind- when h*ll freezes over. | |
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| Would you donate an organ?
Posted: 3/3/2009 10:40:33 AM | | Never mind job security. If one of my kids or siblings needed something that I could provide, I would be there in a heartbeat! I have left explicit instructions that when my time comes, should I have anything left of value after I party it all out, anyone is welcome to it! I think organ donation is a wonderful idea! | |
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| Would you donate an organ?
Posted: 3/3/2009 11:08:39 AM | I agree with you moonchild re kids and siblings.
As for organ donation at time of death, well, the jury is still out on that one.
I will not sign nothing agreeing to donate organs at death since I have no guarantee, that if some multi billionaire needed my heart for example, that everything medically possible would be done to ensure my survival. | |
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| Would you donate an organ?
Posted: 3/3/2009 1:05:00 PM | | If being an organ donor saved my child's life or anyone in my family,most certainly yes and without hesitation. Donating upon death? Why not. I'll have no further use so why not let someone else benefit from whatever can be reused/recycled. Better then it all becoming maggot food. Would I knowingly donate just for the sake of making money? NOPE! I'm not that desperate and don't plan on ever being that desperate. There are some things in life, money just can't buy! | |
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| Would you donate an organ?
Posted: 3/3/2009 1:40:55 PM | | Does it have to be your own organ in order to get the time off? Not someone else's? Hmmm.... | |
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| Would you donate an organ?
Posted: 3/3/2009 2:39:27 PM | I have had a signed donor card for many years. If they want anything after I die, they are welcome to it.
As for living donations, yes I would if I knew of a need. My mother was the recipient of a bone marrow transplant, and while she died of other complications, we were grateful that a stranger was willing to donate to give her a chance. Given my health issues I don't know if I would be accepted as a donor - I can't even give blood - but I would be willling to do it. | |
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| Would you donate an organ?
Posted: 3/3/2009 3:59:45 PM | | Im a living donor. I donated a kidney to a friend just over 5 yrs ago now.I dont notice any differance in my health but my friend sure notices the differance in hers.If I had the chance to donate again I would it was the best experiance of my life. | |
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| Would you donate an organ?
Posted: 3/3/2009 6:14:52 PM | Way to go Pigdog!!!
I would donate a Kidney while alive. If I die and my organs are salvageable I have signed my organ donor card already.
If a loved one needed a body part and I could help them then I would do it regardless of if I received money for time off. | |
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| Would you donate an organ?
Posted: 3/3/2009 7:11:38 PM | Congrats pigdog - you did a wonderful thing!
I've signed my donor card.. my dad had a liver transplant, unfortunately he has passed since then... but meeting all of the familes who were benefiting from donors when we were at the University Hospital in London was amazing! | |
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| Would you donate an organ?
Posted: 3/3/2009 7:27:51 PM | I would like to say yes, if someone needed an organ that I would be only too glad to oblige. Unfortunately thanks to outsourcing I have become a self employed private contractor, so that would mean no income. Though I have private insurance, I would not be covered. Now if the government would help me out, other than EI, because I don't qualify for that either, that would make it easier for me, or if my circumstances were to change, then I would gladly help someone I cared about in need.
Now after I leave this world, if I have any salvagable parts, they are to be donated, no ifs, ands or buts. | |
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| Would you donate an organ?
Posted: 3/3/2009 9:43:49 PM | Pigdog - that's really great to hear, we need more people like you..
Does anyone donate blood regularly?? | |
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| Would you donate an organ?
Posted: 3/3/2009 10:24:24 PM | please don't bury me down in the cold cold ground,
just cut me up and pass me all around
throw my brain to a hurricane
the blind can have my eyes
the deaf can take both of my ears,
if they don't mind the size.
line from a John Prine song
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| Would you donate an organ?
Posted: 3/4/2009 3:52:06 AM | I'm curious as to how much of this would be covered by Service Canada's Employment Insurance. Currently, if a person falls seriously ill and is unable to work, they are only covered under this for benefits for a period of 16 weeks (could be 15, I don't recall the exact number) and even then a person is penalized for the two week waiting period.
Considering Employment Insurance maxes out at just over $400.00 a week, I can't see too many people jumping at this because of the huge loss of income; if it is covered at all...
I've already signed my donor card for organ harvesting upon my death, and if a family member or close friend needed one of the 'extras' that we have, yes, I wouldn't hesitate to step forward whether or not I'd be protected. I'm not so sure I would be willing to undergo invasive surgery for a stranger though...
Another thing to take into consideration is how cold an employer would appear if they terminated a person's employment for that person being a 'good samaritan'... I can't imagine worse publicity... or better if they actually went the extra mile and topped off the EI premiums back to the person's standard wage...
Just something to think about... | |
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| Would you donate an organ?
Posted: 3/4/2009 5:32:16 AM | And to think of all the years I donated my 'organs' .. sigh .. never knew I could collect IE for it!! lol
ok ok .. 
I signed my organ donor card years back. re: being a living donor = Yup - in a heartbeat. To save a life - you betcha! What a great gift to save another persons life ..
The reward is in the giving. Sign me up!
((as usual I agree with psssst .. can't imagine anyone being 'terminated' from their job for doing the right thing! .. bad publicity ..)) | |
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| Would you donate an organ?
Posted: 3/4/2009 8:52:13 AM | There is an option on the donor card not only for certain organs but to donate your body to science.
I have no need for the shell of my being after death, if it can be of use - all the better.
I give blood, I have once given bone marrow and if my kidney matched, well I know I can survive with one. It is all very much like volunteering time, or recycling stuff - give what you can...
we take nothing with us.
the reward is not about being paid by our employer, what does that have to do with it anyhow? | |
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| Would you donate an organ?
Posted: 3/4/2009 10:38:58 AM | Bless you mosaicart for donating bone marrow. I hear that's a painful one.. (i'm curious whether you donated for research or to someone who needed it)
the reward is not about being paid by our employer, what does that have to do with it anyhow?
Your absolutely right. The reward isn't about being paid, but I think the aim of this legislation is similar to that of a pregnancy leave.
In other words, you can feel safe about returning to the same job after giving birth. It is an unpaid leave (though I know nothing about the EI claims you can make), but you have that 'feel better' guarantee about taking time off to have a child. From the governments point of view, job security for pregnancy leave should increase birth rates and therefore increase Canada's population (a good thing from their standpoint - more labour available, more incomes to tax, lol)
So from what I understand, this proposed organ donor legislation should (theoretically at least) increase the number of organ donors. It is an unpaid leave (again not sure if you can claim EI), but you have job security during your recovery time. What I am wondering is, whether or not this would actually help you to 'get up and go' so to speak.
Many of us say we will donate, but it's easier to say than do isn't it? that includes myself.. and of course if a family member or friend were in need, we wouldn't hesitate.. but what about a 'random act of kindness'? for the next person on the waiting list... it could be a child, a senior, who knows.. it could be a friend of a friend (6 degrees of separation??) would you still do it? | |
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| Would you donate an organ?
Posted: 3/4/2009 11:08:41 AM |
Many of us say we will donate, but it's easier to say than do isn't it? that includes myself.. and of course if a family member or friend were in need, we wouldn't hesitate.. but what about a 'random act of kindness'? for the next person on the waiting list... it could be a child, a senior, who knows.. it could be a friend of a friend (6 degrees of separation??) would you still do it?
For those who say they would, other than for your children or siblings, I have to wonder if you have considered the possibility you might need it?
You donate a kidney and down the road something happens to your one remaining kidney, you can't very well get the one you donated back.
Another possibility would be you donate to a stranger, down the road your childs kidneys fail. What do you tell him/her? Them's the breaks!
I'm not against donating organs but we never know what the future may hold. | |
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| Would you donate an organ?
Posted: 3/4/2009 11:49:29 AM | To those who have donated...Good for you!
If I had family or a friend that needed an organ, and mine was a match...Here, if I don't need it, it's all yours! I don't even want the Govt. to pay me for it (but thats just my own personal preference)
I think its great the Govt. offers such things, and as a tax payer (a lot of taxes I might add) I am more than happy to have my tax dollars go to this!
When Im dead, they can have everything, what can't be used to help a life now, can be used to teach someone to save one in the future. | |
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| Would you donate an organ?
Posted: 3/4/2009 11:49:45 AM | | Buggsy, you are quite right! I did think about that, but personally I don't think it would stop me. I try not to live my life by wondering what-if. Furthermore, if everyone donated a kidney, there wouldn't be a shortage and no one would have to worry about not finding one. But that's an idealistic viewpoint, and we live in a very realistic society. | |
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| Would you donate an organ?
Posted: 3/4/2009 3:21:42 PM | | Everything but my eyes are up for grabs once Im gone. For my daughter everything is up for grabs now. For anyone else if it wont affect my quality of life and I was capable sure. | |
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| Would you donate an organ?
Posted: 3/4/2009 4:54:33 PM | There's new legislation being proposed that would give you 13-26 weeks off work for donating a major organ. I'm curious as to how common organ donation is (as I've thought about being a donor myself).
Is that 13 to 26 weeks off work PER major organ? If so, sign me up right now. I'll offer up my heart, liver, kidneys and lungs (is that 13 to 26 weeks off for "each" kidney or lung or per pair?) and I'll throw in the corneas for free!
Mind you, I'll need most of my major organs as long as I'm still alive, but I would like to start taking advantage of the agreed-upon time off work right now. Later when I'm dead, go ahead and harvest all you want! Anything not used, I would like fed to my dog. | |
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| Would you donate an organ?
Posted: 3/4/2009 5:51:18 PM | pigdog: thanks for posting in this thread as it brought a smile to my face when you told me before about donating your kidney to a friend :)
My sister is also a living donor and on January 18,2000 she gave me the greatest gift I have ever received..a kidney! It freed me from 4 and a half hours/3 times a week being hooked up to a kidney dialysis machine which helped to remove toxins from my blood as when they kidney stops working it is unable to do this.
I have had some minor problems since then but for about 8 yrs now my health has been stable and I have been able to live life and accomplish my goals!
Sure getting time to get off work to donate an organ is a great incentive but really is that your primary motivation to do it?
I think you really need to hear my story and others who have received a life saving organ. I have never been so grateful to be healthy again thanks to my wonderful sister :)
Perhaps there is someone you know that needs a kidney, liver or bone marrow transplant would you go through with the transplant knowing you will get paid time off work or are you doing it because you want to help "save their life"?
What about someone you didn't know? Would you sign a donor card to give them the life saving organs they need?
Next January 18th it will be 10 yrs since the transplant and I plan to keep my sisters gift alive for another 10+ !! | |
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