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Kayla
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| Joined: | Mon Jul 30th, 2007 |
| Location: | Emmitsburg, Maryland USA |
| Posts: | 369 |
| First Name: | Kayla | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Atheist, kind-of Mormon, Catholic |
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Posted: Tue Feb 26th, 2008 03:40 am |
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I just noticed under the description of Sexuality and Life Issues, there was mention of organ donation. I had never considered this issue before. When I registered and received my liscense, I signed to be an organ donator. Is there anything wrong with donating organs before or after death? I never thought of it as being an issue before.
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I believe, Lord, help my unbelief.
Jesus, I trust in You!
There's not a lot of job security for us after death. I suppose that's one advantage of being a philosopher. - Peter Kreeft
http://kayla23mount.blogspot.com/
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CajunRick
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5453 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Tue Feb 26th, 2008 03:45 am |
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Kayla wrote: I just noticed under the description of Sexuality and Life Issues, there was mention of organ donation. I had never considered this issue before. When I registered and received my liscense, I signed to be an organ donator. Is there anything wrong with donating organs before or after death? I never thought of it as being an issue before.
The Church encourages organ donation.
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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DrDave
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| Joined: | Mon Nov 6th, 2006 |
| Location: | Mildura, Australia |
| Posts: | 244 |
| First Name: | Dave | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Cradle - Lapsed - Renewed Catholic |
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Posted: Tue Feb 26th, 2008 03:52 am |
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From a Catholic point of view, there is nothing wrong with organ donation on or after death, provided that one does not view such as a way of "living on". If I die, and give bits away, then they are no longer to be considered part of "Me". They are just body parts.
The other concern I have heard raised in Catholic circles recently, especially regarding "living wills" etc is a growing trend towards harvesting organs from people who are "Mostly dead"* rather than "All dead". People in "permanent vegitative states" and on "artificail life support" are having their organs removed before being "All dead" as the organs are more viable. If true, and I have no reason to discount those sources, a very disturbing trend.
Regards Doc
*"Mostly dead" brings to mind a passage from "The Princess Bride" one of my all time favourite movies
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Kayla
Member
| Joined: | Mon Jul 30th, 2007 |
| Location: | Emmitsburg, Maryland USA |
| Posts: | 369 |
| First Name: | Kayla | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Atheist, kind-of Mormon, Catholic |
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Posted: Tue Feb 26th, 2008 03:52 am |
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The Church encourages organ donation.
Okay, lol. I would have thought so, but the fact that it was included under the description made me nervous for a moment. I couldn't think of any reason why the Church would be opposed, so I thought I would ask. Thanks Rick, for the clarification.
____________________
I believe, Lord, help my unbelief.
Jesus, I trust in You!
There's not a lot of job security for us after death. I suppose that's one advantage of being a philosopher. - Peter Kreeft
http://kayla23mount.blogspot.com/
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Kayla
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| Joined: | Mon Jul 30th, 2007 |
| Location: | Emmitsburg, Maryland USA |
| Posts: | 369 |
| First Name: | Kayla | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Atheist, kind-of Mormon, Catholic |
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Posted: Tue Feb 26th, 2008 03:57 am |
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Okay Dave, I see where some issues could come into play.
Concerning the donation of organs while one is in "vegitative state"... Would it be acceptable for non-vital organs to be donated, much like one would be able to do fully conscious? Although, I'm sure that would still bring in the issue of consent and what have you.
____________________
I believe, Lord, help my unbelief.
Jesus, I trust in You!
There's not a lot of job security for us after death. I suppose that's one advantage of being a philosopher. - Peter Kreeft
http://kayla23mount.blogspot.com/
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DrDave
Member
| Joined: | Mon Nov 6th, 2006 |
| Location: | Mildura, Australia |
| Posts: | 244 |
| First Name: | Dave | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Cradle - Lapsed - Renewed Catholic |
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Posted: Tue Feb 26th, 2008 04:04 am |
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Kayla wrote: Okay Dave, I see where some issues could come into play.
Concerning the donation of organs while one is in "vegitative state"... Would it be acceptable for non-vital organs to be donated, much like one would be able to do fully conscious? Although, I'm sure that would still bring in the issue of consent and what have you.
As you say, if issues of consent could be dealt with, then I know of no reason why non vital organs could not be retrieved in this method. I would however be concerned at retrieving anything that that they would need back in order to live a normal healthy lifestyle if they "woke up" - which does happen!
So those things that normal healthy people can choose freely to donate, such a their first kidney, part of a liver, bone marrow etc, I have no problem with.
Regards Doc
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CajunRick
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5453 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Tue Feb 26th, 2008 04:07 am |
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Kayla wrote: Concerning the donation of organs while one is in "vegitative state"... Would it be acceptable for non-vital organs to be donated, much like one would be able to do fully conscious? Although, I'm sure that would still bring in the issue of consent and what have you.
I would see no problem with, say, a kidney donation if the family consented and there was still a working kidney, or the donation of bone marrow, etc.
Also, it is possible for a person with no brain activity to be kept "alive" artificlally on life support pending an organ donation. This is not "life" but a mechanical method of organ preservation and, to the best of my knowledge, is acceptable to the Church. There comes a time to "pull the plug" and allow death to take its natural course. It is a noble sacrifice to allow a loved one's organs to help preserve the life of another, even if it means prolonging the time in which the body is kept artifically alive.
As Dave mentioned, the Church would have a problem if, say, I kept track of a person who had my wife's heart in the mistaken belief that a portion of her was in some morbid way still alive. Once the soul has left the body, all that's left is parts, and if those parts can help another living person, it is noble to share that which no longer lives.
For the record, my wife and I have both expressed a wish to donate our bodies to medical research, and our daughter has been so instructed and has agreed. When the time comes, our church will hold a memorial service rather than a funeral. I have spoken to doctors who tell me that donated bodies are treated with the utmost respect in the medical schools they attended, and that the end of year memorial service is quite beautiful. To me, that satisfies the Church's requirement that my physical remains will be respectfully interred after cremation.
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Ali
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| Joined: | Sat Jan 6th, 2007 |
| Location: | Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 665 |
| First Name: | Ali | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | JW, finally fully Catholic |
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Posted: Tue Feb 26th, 2008 10:22 am |
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Kayla wrote:
Okay, lol. I would have thought so, but the fact that it was included under the description made me nervous for a moment. I couldn't think of any reason why the Church would be opposed, so I thought I would ask. Thanks Rick, for the clarification.
But some churches do not. Unless something has changed, JW's do not encourage this position. They feel you need to meet God whole, and when you are resurected you will need all your parts {shrug} So someone coming in may have questions about this that we take for granted.
Ali
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BeProf
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| Joined: | Thu Jan 3rd, 2008 |
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| Posts: | 85 |
| First Name: | Ed | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Independent Fundamental Baptist - Atheism - Christian & Missionary Alliance |
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Posted: Tue Feb 26th, 2008 12:29 pm |
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I'm an organ donor.
My wife's family has a long history of kidney disease. This is a not uncommon malady amongst the Amish and Mennonite communities where my wife's family comes from. Her father had two transplants before he passed away several years ago. Her uncle just had his second kidney transplant. All but one of those transplants came from close family members who themselves now face a greatly increased risk of having to have a transplant later in life.
Organ and tissue donation really is the gift of life for people who need it.
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germangreek
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| Joined: | Tue Feb 26th, 2008 |
| Location: | Lansing, Michigan USA |
| Posts: | 23 |
| First Name: | Richard | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic, (Charismatic and still) Catholic |
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Posted: Thu Feb 28th, 2008 02:01 am |
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Donating a kidney is one thing, but...
If a vital organ is really "vital", wouldn't the removal of it be the cause of death? I wonder if brain death is an adequate definition of "death". There seems to me, moreover, something disturbing in treating the human body like a Chevy that can be scavenged for parts when the original owner no longer needs it.
I certainly don't suggest that I'm passing judgment on Christians who come to a different conclusion. I do suggest that it may not be an automatic decision.
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"The purpose of an open mind, like that of an open mouth, is to close it on something solid." GK Chesterton.
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
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Posted: Thu Feb 28th, 2008 03:45 am |
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germangreek wrote: Donating a kidney is one thing, but...
If a vital organ is really "vital", wouldn't the removal of it be the cause of death? I wonder if brain death is an adequate definition of "death". There seems to me, moreover, something disturbing in treating the human body like a Chevy that can be scavenged for parts when the original owner no longer needs it.
I certainly don't suggest that I'm passing judgment on Christians who come to a different conclusion. I do suggest that it may not be an automatic decision.
First of all, welcome to our forum. We're glad you joined us.
It is by no means an automatic decision for many people. It is very difficult, and can cause very serious concerns for children and other family members. And it is certainly a hard decision for family members to make when the person hasn't made his or her wishes clear.
Many choose not to make a donation until after a decision is made to pull the plug, and all life functions actually cease, and that is their right. Others will accept a medical determination from multiple physicians, or from the family doctor. Each situation is unique.
My wife and I made our decision for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is the knowledge that our only child is not likely to be living in this area and will not have the ability to be comforted by visiting our resting place. All of us also have the belief that our bodies are merely vessels, and the immortal soul which makes us children of God will be united with God for all eternity, and that we will meet again at the foot of God's Throne.
So this is our decision. I encourage others to donate organs, but I would never be so presumptuous as to say that anyone who makes a different decision is wrong. In my work as a hospice chaplain I encountered many families who had to make difficult decisions, and families were much better able to confront difficult situations if the wishes of the dying person were made plain long before death and conveyed to the family. Still, the ultimate decision to honor the dying person's wishes will belong to the family, and the medical community will not ignore their wishes.
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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