If one is an organ donor?

Question

If the box is checked on one's state ID or driver's license that he/she is an organ donor and God forbid they are in an auto accident, will the paramedics save their lives or will they let them die since those organs will then save the lives of many people?

Answer 1

If they want to harvest the organs, you must be alive. Maybe brain dead, but the heart must be perfusing the organs or they will die and be worthless. When they harvest a heart, for example, that person is clinically "alive" when they are brought into the OR and do not "die" until the heart is removed.
For the record, paramedics aren't looking or caring if a person is an organ donor. If they did find out a person was a donor, they may attempt to keep perfusion going so the organs can potentially be harvested rather than pronounce in the street.

I have been a medic for over 17 years and have never known whether a person was a donor or not on scene. Its irrelevant. I'm too busy working to stop and dig for a license.
You just do your job and do the best for everyone.

Answer 2

First off, I don't remember ever taking the time to check a patient's drivers license to see if they are an organ donor. Normally, I'll check their driver's license (after I've stabilized them) so I can find out their name, date of birth, and see if they have any medical information in their wallet, but that's about it.

Paramedics ALWAYS try to save a life first, unless they have an obvious injury incompatible with life (or they have been in cardiac arrest for far too long to resuscitate).

I couldn't live with myself if I let a person die just because I thought their organs might be salvagable.

Also, if a potential organ donor is off life support, obviously the organs will die, so if resuscitation isn't attempted, then there are no viable organs to harvest at a later date.

It's not my place to decide those things. If there's even a remote chance that they can be resuscitated, I do everything possible to resuscitate them. I'd want the same done if my fiancee was in an accident (and he's an organ donor, too)

Answer 3

I have heard this point of view many times as a reason for not becoming an organ donor.
First off, if you have serious doubts about the ethics of a paramedic who might attend to you in case of an accident, the paramedic is not going to know if you are or aren't an organ donor - he doesn't check your license, he checks your vitals. His objective is to get you to the hospital alive and as quickly as possible.
Once in the hospital, the doctors will do their best to save your life regardless of your donor preference - their job is simple not providing organs - their job is your well being.
I am an organ donor and it saddens me to know that there are so many people awaiting organ donations - and so many viable organs simply being buried. It just doesn't make sense to me.
Unlike the ancient Egyptians, I doubt seriously that I will need any sundries or organs to accompany me on my final journey.

Answer 4

While the paramedics are trying to save your life,they are not going through your wallet to see if you are an organ donor. And in order for your organs to be viable,your heart still has to be beating. Major organs cannot be used from someone who is already dead.
You have nothing to fear by checking that box.

Answer 5

Most states have done away with that box. The reason, it's NOT legally binding. The person's consent that matters is the closest realtives, and they can choose to do as they want regardless of a check box on a license, or even a written declaration.

Answer 6

Paramedics will ALWAYS try to save the life of an injured person. So will doctors. It would be illegal to let them just die, unless they had a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) order.

Answer 7

as a paramedic myself, we have far more concerns on our minds than whether someone is an organ donor or not when someone has had a major trauma.

Answer 8

they would try to save the person, regardless of their donor status.