I read an article yesterday that the rate of people dropping off of the transplant list

[Horse with no Name]

Is enormous. More than has ever happened before.
I stumbled across a conversation on Social Media and the usual dumbass anti-science, anti-vaccine goofs appear to be the ones that are declining to be donors.
I have been a listed donor for years and honestly, I am reconsidering this. I am thinking of instructing my family to sign the papers to donate ONLY if the recipient can prove that they and their immediate family are also on the donor list.
This is where we are in this country but honestly, I don’t feel that organs should be available to those who are unwilling to reciprocate the donation.
I am so saddened at this being where we are but I honestly don’t want to be the reason some magat lives.

[underpants]

1. F'ing NYT

According to the Donor Network of Arizona, more than 2,500 people removed themselves from the Donor Registry in July. It was the largest single-month removal in the network’s history.

The big question is why?

The number of people changing their minds about organ donation came around the same time the New York Times started publishing stories that raised concerns about how some organ donations were handled across the country. The investigation cited cases where medical teams prematurely removed organs from patients.

“Donor registry removals in Arizona are increasing because of negative news stories about isolated organ donation cases in other states. What has been reported is not happening in Arizona.

https://www.azfamily.com/2025/09/16/thousands-remove-themselves-arizonas-organ-donor-registry/

[Horse with no Name]

4. Thanks!

I couldn’t remember where I read it!

[Ms. Toad]

2. You are the one who decides if you are an organ donor - not your family.

Your advance directive regarding your organs overrides anything your family might wish.

Please don't drop off the list. The organ recipients I know (many, many people - some recipients of as many as 5 transplants) would die without a transplant. I also know many people who have died while waiting for a transplant.

For some organs, there are alternatives (at least in the short term). Kidneys, for example, can limp along with dialysis for a while. Others can receive a transplant from a live donor (kidneys, and liver, for example).

Many family members of those who need an organ are organ donors, including live donors. My daughter will need a liver at some point in time. Since it is currently in the news - she has the same disease Jamie Redford (Robert Redford's son) had. He had two transplants. Because she won't need a transplant before I age out of donating (which I now have), I was evaluated to donate part of my liver to another person with the same disease. At the time, I had no idea what his politics were - but I knew that without a liver he would die. At the annual conference for this disease last year, one person with the disease was wearing a T-shirt with a QR code - looking for anyone interested in being a live donor. The mom of a newly diagnosed teen saw the shirt - and agreed to be the donor. It was announced the first day of the conference this year (last Friday) that the transplant took place 16 days earlier. The donor had healed enough to attend; the recipient was not well enough yet and attended by phone. I have no idea what either of their politics are. I know many parents, siblings, friends, and spouses who have donated part of their liver to their loved one - and others who have done so for complete strangers. The least you can do is to share your organs when you no longer need them, rather than burying them in the ground to rot.

Rather than looking at it as potentially keeping a magat alive, the withdrawal of your donor consent might be the reason my daughter dies.

[eppur_se_muova]

3. If the person has a chronic condition, they won't be a donor. Especially if due to something communicable.

And I can imagine many families where there are big splits on this, so "all immediate family" may very well not be donors. Remember, you don't choose your relatives, except for your spouse.

I'm not going to change anything. If someone is going to die without my organs, that's two human lives lost instead of one.

But I will have the donor's family informed I'm a foreign-born, mixed-race, transsexual, college-educated bleeding-heart liberal atheist. They can take whatever action they want.

[mucholderthandirt]

6. If that's a deal-breaker for some, there will be someone else ready for your generous gift.

I'm a foreign-born, mixed-race, transsexual, college-educated bleeding-heart liberal atheist.

[mucholderthandirt]

5. Stupid is as stupid does. Morons to the left of me, morons to the right!

I've been an organ donor since my 18th birthday. I read an article in an old Reader's Digest, which had a card. I had my two best friends sign it with me in study hall the day I turned 18. That will be fifty years ago in February.

I was on the bone marrow list until I aged out at 62. I'd always hoped I'd match someone, but never did.

My late father and brother were both able to donate after their deaths, and I know they'd be happy to know people had better lives due to our sad losses.

People with hearts do these sorts of things. People who are selfish, ignorant MAGA fools don't. They hate science and love their perverted religion. That's why we're better than they are.