...is a terrifyingly illiberal idea, and so ETTL is not suprised the PM is making positive noises regarding it. Presumably the next Brownian step would be to kill the workshy and donate their useful bits to "hard-working families" in these credit-crunched times?
People do not lose their core property rights (over their own person) when they die; and thus the state assuming people would like to have donated organs (despite no evidence to this effect) is a violation of the basic Lockean principles that underpin a liberal, capitalist society.
Whatever increase in flesh that such a measure would result in would never make up for the fundamental shift between the individual and the state; and reports predict a mere 10-15% increase in donations if presumed consent were implemented. Hopefully, given the opposition of the UK Organ Donation Taskforce the idea will go the way of the cone hotline and the citizens of this island (or their families) will continue to exercise full title over all of their biology.
Monday, 17 November 2008
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Presumed consent seems to be an iteration of the 'nudge' way of doing things; it's the same idea as opt-out pensions and so on.
I'm not sure where I stand on this issue; once I have shuffled of this mortal coil, it would seem like a good idea for any bits of me that can help someone else to be used; I recycle, after all, and I carry a donor card.
The experience in Spain was that the increase in organs available for donation was not because of presumed consent but having a person in every hospital whose role was to organise transplants, including the difficult task of talking to relatives. Another factor - a very important one - was the film Todo sobre mi madre by Almodóvar, which featured Cecilia Roth as an organ transplant nurse. I think that raised awareness of the issue very effectively.
Somewhere - I can't remember where - I heard what's perhaps a better idea than presumed consent. At 18, you have to decide one way or the other. You can, of course, change your mind at any point, but it seems like a good time to ask the question.
You're wrong on death and property rights inasmuch as it is not an absolute; where there is no heir or an insufficient heir, property escheats to the Crown. In any case, bona vacantia, which can include organs, revert to the Crown.
xD.
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