IT is interesting to read the concerns regarding organ donation expressed by your correspondents, Dr Peter Bennie and Darrell Desbrow (Letters, November 20 and 23). Mr Desbrow is correct in stating that most people do not consider the subject and that even when they do, for a variety of reasons, do not make their wishes known. However, I do not agree with him that by not having positively expressed a desire to “opt in” then one must assume the default position that they would choose to “opt out”.
In almost all human societies the body shortly after death is either cremated, in which case it will be reduced to ashes, or buried, and slowly decompose over a longer period. In either case the corporeal body will be atomised and eventually reconstituted, becoming part of some future living thing or things.
Believers and non-believers alike are of the opinion that after death the body becomes an empty vessel, devoid of personality and character and no longer the home of the deceased. Adherents of many faiths believe in some form of afterlife, whether it be heaven, hell, or reincarnation, but since the demise of the ancient Egyptians, not many put much emphasis in the preservation of the body. However, although it is impossible to bring dead flesh back to life, it is possible, through organ donation, to keep part of the deceased’s body alive, living in, enhancing and probably extending the life of, the body of another.
Therefore, from a purely rational point of view, one must conclude that unless someone has expressly asked to opt out one must assume they would wish to opt in.
Jim Meikle,
41 Lampson Road, Killearn.
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