Re:Organ donation becomes opt-out in France
by pkaye on Monday January 02, 2017 @11:41AM
(#13302182)
One never knows that they might eventually need an organ transplant. Two years ago I was feeling reasonably healthy for my age but internally a uncommon auto immune disease are fighting a battle and my kidney were losing it with hardly any symptoms of the damage. In a manner of months I had some joint pains that wouldn't go away and my weight started ballooning. I went to the doctor and he didn't take it seriously until tests indicated that I was stage 4 kidney disease. Generally at this point is it too late and kidney function may slowly degrade further over time.
I found my diagnosis at that point and even if discovered early the auto immune disease I have still doesn't have a cure to stop it other than treat the symptoms. My short term hopes are to stay healthy as possible and when required switch to dialysis and try to live a long normal life until I get a transplant. But in most places in the US, a kidney transplant takes 3-5 years on a list due to organ shortage. In many parts of the EU the wait is just under a year. Also organ transplant is not a cure in any way since one needs a lifetime of drugs to keeps prevent rejection but it is better than dialysis in trying to live a normal life.
On the question of organ donation being opt-in/out I certainly would like a shorter wait time but I would like people to be informed as much as possible to make a decision. I think much of it is people believing it will never happen to them that they need it. But just remember that on a roll of dice things can change for you without even knowing it.
I found my diagnosis at that point and even if discovered early the auto immune disease I have still doesn't have a cure to stop it other than treat the symptoms. My short term hopes are to stay healthy as possible and when required switch to dialysis and try to live a long normal life until I get a transplant. But in most places in the US, a kidney transplant takes 3-5 years on a list due to organ shortage. In many parts of the EU the wait is just under a year. Also organ transplant is not a cure in any way since one needs a lifetime of drugs to keeps prevent rejection but it is better than dialysis in trying to live a normal life.
On the question of organ donation being opt-in/out I certainly would like a shorter wait time but I would like people to be informed as much as possible to make a decision. I think much of it is people believing it will never happen to them that they need it. But just remember that on a roll of dice things can change for you without even knowing it.