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Gordon Brown has seen fit to lend his support to the idea that Parliament should pass legislation that says that on death by default, organs may be harvested from anyone who hasn’t opted out of being a donor, the exact opposite of the current situation where people “opt in” to be a donor.

This is a wrong headed move that only an idiot politician could come up with. Increasingly under this totalitarian Labour Government, the principles of English/Welsh Law that “That which is not prohibited is therefore Lawful” has changed to one of constant, intrusive and ineffectual legislation built around “today’s” tabloid headlines and Labour MPs attempting to cling on to their jobs, it has nothing to do with creating a better society.

That there is a need to increase the flow of donor organs is quite right but this process should be handled by the medical profession and not by Parliament who may give money to support an “awareness & education” programme but most certainly not, legislate on the matter. It is the doctors who will be there at the A&E with the grieving relatives who must “ask the question” and reassure them, not Gordon Bloody Brown.

In basic principle, this is not a matter that falls within the competence of Parliament just as much of the “guff” peddled about how parents should bring up their children is either. “Big Gordon is watching you” may appeal to that decrepit failure as Chancellor and Prime Minister but to sensible men and women of whatever political persuasion, it’s total nuts and time the men in white coats came and took him away.

The Real Issue

At the age of 62, my well lived in body may yield little of interest to be ‘harvested’ and in all truth, once I’m gone I don’t care whether the worms get my remains or another person but in a sense, this is the main point isn’t it ?

The majority of “desirable organs” will come from people below the age of 25-30 with an emphasis on children, who have died in traumatic circumstances – road crash and so on. Realistically, as with the old, younger people who died from disease are less likely to have anything to offer.

For the next of kin of the victim of a sudden and tragic death, it is a tough decision to make and many doctors will shy away from even asking them the question in the first place, which is probably what this is mainly about. You don’t need a Law, you need public awareness and a change in attitude that says to give is the “normal thing” and not to, the exception. It’s about education not, legislation just as the change in attitude to drink driving 30 years ago has changed from a “social faux pas” then to “distinctly criminal” and socially unacceptable today.

A Further Entry

After posting this, I also posted an edited version on the “Telegraph comments post”. I always find the entries from other readers interesting even, if I disagree with their views however, today I saw one that struck me as typifying what is wrong with our country today. The comment and below that my reply which may or may not get published by the Telegraph:

“They should go further. It should be made clear to people who choose to opt out that they will not be eligible for transplants themselves, should they ever need one. No exceptions. Not even for politicians.
Posted by Iva Dinnuff on January 15, 2008 12:37 PM”

No, no, no, no ,no. It is exactly this kind of lickspittle spite that seems to have become embedded in British public life after 10 years of lacklustre Labour rule. This is as bad as saying that smokers, drinkers and the overweight who clearly have “An Unhealthy Lifestyle” according to the muddle classes current fashions, will be denied care under the NHS. Promote your views by all means but for those of us who care about these islands, changing the temper of the times back to one of good nature, tolerance and respect for the rights of others, must be the most important immediate objective. Labour has introduced a “rapists view” to legislation that seems to have an all too ready audience, enough of this nonsense.