Why don't more people donate kidneys?

Question

It was a question about after death. I feel very sorry for you angry people who just assumed I wouldn't be willing to donate one myself. I would gladly do so if I had one to give. If my eye sight from one eye would save a life yes I would donate and eye. If your best friend the love of your life or a parent whatever were dieing would you use the same rationality as you sated here? Basically F****U because I might need it some day?

Answer 1

My mom gave me hers. Thanks mom! As for your question, if you're talking about live donation, there are some risks involved. I don't think I'd blame a stranger for not wanting to do it, especially if they had kids of their own who may some day need one. But, if you're talking about cadaveric transplants, I think the reason some people don't agree to be an organ donor is that they have an irrational fear of being taken off life support too soon so that their organs can be donated. Or maybe the doctors won't try hard enough to save them if they think they can be a donor. I say irrational because I honestly don't believe this would happen.

BE AN ORGAN DONOR! Make your family aware of your wishes, as they have the final say.

To those of you who are afraid you cannot survive with one kidney, I have been living with just one for the past 2 years. Before that, I lived on dialysis without any working kidneys. I have had 3 transplants total, my mom gave me the first. She has now been living with one kidney since 1999. She is just fine. She has absolutely no residual side effects from the donation at all.
I was also a bit curious to read from one person that we were given two so that if one failed, we would have the other. So why, then, do we not have 2 hearts? 2 livers?

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

I Do Not Have Any Peircings,Tattoos,Do Not Wear Jewelry,I Am An Organ Donor,But Only After I Am Dead,Until I Am Dead I Will Be Using Them Daily,Really Wish I Could Help You Before I Die But,IAm Afraid I Can Not.Really Sorry..I Feel For You But I Can't Quite Reach Ya..

Answer 4

I would in an instant if I could. (I can't, due to a contagious disease.)

I think the main reason people don't is that no one asks them to. Is there a place to sign up as a possible kidney donor, as there is for bone marrow? If so, you should put it in your "add details."

Another reason is that many people cannot afford the month to six weeks they'd have to take off work.

Third is probably the question of who would pay for long-term health care if something should go bad during harvesting. Donating is clearly not medically necessary for the donor, so it's elective surgery.

Answer 5

I feel that sooner r later, if not presently, some greedy Doctor or Practitioner is gonna find the list of live donors and wipe out people who are willing to donate if they should die, thus forming a hit list. There are people out there who would do anything for money.

Answer 6

Because it's a risk. And I wouldn't risk my life, and I need them. Would you ever donate your kidney? If the answer is no, then it's the same reason as the other people don't donate kidneys.

Answer 7

Because although you can live a normal life with only one of your kidneys, you do ahve to give up quite alot of freedoms, in order to stay healthy.

For instance people who enjoy drinking, 95% of the planet basically, would have to limit their drinking habits, or give them up for good.

So although giving a kidney to another person is a fantastic thing, it can severly affect the lifestyle of the donor.

Answer 8

it's a risk. our body was made with 2 so if one fails then we still have the other. if i donate my kidney then the other one fails then I'm as good as dead..... oh no i am dead, not just as good as. after i die they can use what ever they want off of me (i won't have to worry about it then.) but other then donating blood I'm not going to take the chance. if my kidney grew back in a month then i would be willing to take that risk. but it doesn't so i don't.

Answer 9

i wish i knew. people can survive easily with just one. and you could save a life with the other. my friends son just had a kidney transplant this past year. it saved his life. the woman that donated gained as much as she gave. a new family.

Answer 10

Not sure. I need both of mine while I'm alive, as I drink lots of liquids each day. But, when I'm dead, all useful body parts (except for my eyes, as I got LASIK) are to be donated.