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Keeping your Organs...

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Vellup I have balls. from America Since: Mar, 2011 Relationship Status: The Skitty to my Wailord
I have balls.
#1: Aug 26th 2011 at 11:12:55 AM

Enter at your own risk!

Personally, the only organs I ever had removed were my Wisdom Teeth. My brother had his tonsils removed, and I know of some people who needed to take out their appendix.

In all these cases, it seems to be illegal to keep removed organs/body parts after surgery. Usually, the object in question is just incinerated, or maybe given to a medical school, or in some cases, studied for further testing. When you ask your doctor though, if you just keep your defective appendix in a jar however, the answer is invariably a Big "NO!". There are good reasons provided from the doctor for the most part—keeping your own organs is usually insanitary, research can sometimes be done on them and by agreeing to have your organs removed, they cease to be your property.

Ok, just wait a minute...

Does anyone believe people maintain the right to keep removed body parts after they have agreed to have them removed, or should they become property of the hospital thereafter? Do you believe it is ethical to withhold your organs, or is it perhaps irresponsible? What about amputated limbs, or even miscarried or aborted babies?

Would you keep any of those things in the first place?

If you haven't crumpled into a faint by now, I ask what your views are on this topic. What are the laws regarding this question where you live (It's rather difficult to pinpoint any laws about it using Google though)?

Some of my own opinions:

  • I would not keep my organs now, but I would have when I was little.
  • I do not believe in organ selling.
  • I have no problem with donating my organs after death.
  • I do believe however, that we should retain the right to keep our organs, whatever the situation.

They never travel alone.
Toodle Since: Dec, 1969
#2: Aug 26th 2011 at 11:22:41 AM

It's certainly a topic that's going to need more attention, what with all the regrown tracheas and jawbones and teeth that stem cells allow these days.

Not that it didn't deserve a good deal more clarification already.

DrunkGirlfriend from Castle Geekhaven Since: Jan, 2011
#3: Aug 26th 2011 at 11:26:38 AM

You can ask to keep your wisdom teeth after they're pulled, actually. The squishy organs, on the other hand, are generally not kept because of sanitary concerns, not to mention that most of them are tossed immediately or sent to a lab for further testing, in which they're mutilated.

Also, I have heard of mothers keeping the miscarriage for burial.

edited 26th Aug '11 11:28:04 AM by DrunkGirlfriend

"I don't know how I do it. I'm like the Mr. Bean of sex." -Drunkscriblerian
USAF713 I changed accounts. from the United States Since: Sep, 2010
I changed accounts.
#4: Aug 26th 2011 at 2:06:28 PM

I thought this would be a thread disparaging me for being creeped out by signing the donor bit on my driver's license.

Well... I imagine they don't keep them for anything more than minor testing because, you know, they probably removed them for a reason. I mean, yeah, it would be unsanitary to keep them, but...

I would say the only reason I would allow someone to keep their own organ would be if they had a religious reason to do so. Since no major, mainstream religion advocates keeping your organs in a jar, I doubt that's a real danger. I would say that, therefore, there is no logical (ignoring ethics or morality, on a personal basis) reason to just let the hospital do whatever with the organ...

I'd like if they had a release form, though. I find it rather strange and counter-intuitive, in the US, anyhow, that any part of you would become "not yours" the moment it's detached. I mean, hell, we can have laws that say if you don't release it you still have to dispose of it, but...

Bleh... never mind, silly principles zealotry getting in the way...

I am now known as Flyboy.
SavageHeathen Pro-Freedom Fanatic from Somewhere Since: Feb, 2011
Pro-Freedom Fanatic
#5: Aug 26th 2011 at 2:20:22 PM

[up] Should somebody subscribe to Egyptian paganism, they would have reason to keep their organs in jars. We only need a practicioner of Egyptian paganism to file a lawsuit tongue.

You exist because we allow it and you will end because we demand it.
USAF713 I changed accounts. from the United States Since: Sep, 2010
I changed accounts.
#6: Aug 26th 2011 at 2:21:59 PM

Well, like I said, religion gets a pass. I really don't think most people care that much about keeping their organs to fake being an Egyptian pagan to get it. If they do, they need a good, long stay in the mental wing of the nearest hospital.

Oh, wait, they're already there! [lol]

I am now known as Flyboy.
Baff Since: Jul, 2011
#7: Aug 26th 2011 at 2:38:41 PM

I would change my kidney and 30% of my liver for juice and cookies.

I will always cherish the chance of a new beggining.
LoniJay from Australia Since: Dec, 2009 Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
#8: Aug 26th 2011 at 4:31:30 PM

This reminds me of a story I read a while ago of a doctor who performed a hysterectomy on a woman, and then did something crazy like burn his initials into it with a surgical lazer. I should try to find that story again to make sure it wasn't a hoax, but I believe he was charged with something.

Be not afraid...
TuefelHundenIV Night Clerk of the Apacalypse. from Doomsday Facility Corner Store. Since: Aug, 2009 Relationship Status: I'd need a PowerPoint presentation
Night Clerk of the Apacalypse.
#9: Aug 26th 2011 at 4:45:15 PM

USAF nice generalization.

Usually when you have an organ removed it is because something is wrong. I would not let someone keep a diseased organ for example. Once they are removed from their blood supply organs tend to rot very quickly. All sort of nasty bacteria and infectious agents form in the tissues. This is why harvested organs have such a limited shelf life.

Who watches the watchmen?
USAF713 I changed accounts. from the United States Since: Sep, 2010
I changed accounts.
#10: Aug 26th 2011 at 4:47:30 PM

USAF nice generalization.

What, about people who want to keep their little bits and pieces? It was mostly a joke. Mostly...

I am now known as Flyboy.
TuefelHundenIV Night Clerk of the Apacalypse. from Doomsday Facility Corner Store. Since: Aug, 2009 Relationship Status: I'd need a PowerPoint presentation
Night Clerk of the Apacalypse.
#11: Aug 26th 2011 at 4:50:01 PM

Not a very funny one. There are far crazier things to believe.

Depends on what bits and pieces your talking about.

edited 26th Aug '11 4:50:29 PM by TuefelHundenIV

Who watches the watchmen?
IanExMachina The Paedofinder General from Gone with the Chickens Since: Jul, 2009
The Paedofinder General
#12: Aug 26th 2011 at 4:50:11 PM

I think ideally I'd have the state take the organs after a person died and use them for transplants as they wouldn't be seeing much use 6ft under/being BBQ'd.

This would hopefully stop the idea about organ selling as after 'harvesting' the organs from recently deceased the need for donors would decrease, so the need to buy/sell would be reduced too.

As for anything taken out in surgery like amputated arms and the like I'd be fine with them being used for science/teaching/or similar medical reasons.

By the powers invested in me by tabloid-reading imbeciles, I pronounce you guilty of paedophilia!
LoniJay from Australia Since: Dec, 2009 Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
#13: Aug 26th 2011 at 4:55:26 PM

I'm not sure if they let you donate body parts to science while you're still alive.

I mean, there are plenty of specimens in the anatomy museum of diseased lungs, livers, hearts, etc, but I was under the impression that you could only do that after people were dead. Also, if your arm is so badly damaged that it had to be amputated, wouldn't it be useless for science?

edited 26th Aug '11 4:57:39 PM by LoniJay

Be not afraid...
USAF713 I changed accounts. from the United States Since: Sep, 2010
I changed accounts.
#14: Aug 26th 2011 at 5:13:24 PM

Not a very funny one. There are far crazier things to believe.

Depends on what bits and pieces your talking about.

Organs, my friend. Wanting to keep a tooth is just kind of off-kilter. Wanting to keep your appendix is very, very creepy...

I am now known as Flyboy.
IanExMachina The Paedofinder General from Gone with the Chickens Since: Jul, 2009
The Paedofinder General
#15: Aug 26th 2011 at 5:20:57 PM

Wanting to keep your appendix is very, very creepy...

But it is happy in it's new jar.

At night it tells me to burn things.

wink

By the powers invested in me by tabloid-reading imbeciles, I pronounce you guilty of paedophilia!
SavageHeathen Pro-Freedom Fanatic from Somewhere Since: Feb, 2011
Pro-Freedom Fanatic
#16: Aug 26th 2011 at 5:55:27 PM

Why? It's just a chunk of flesh, presumably in a transparent formaldehyde jar.

edited 26th Aug '11 5:55:51 PM by SavageHeathen

You exist because we allow it and you will end because we demand it.
USAF713 I changed accounts. from the United States Since: Sep, 2010
I changed accounts.
#17: Aug 26th 2011 at 5:57:39 PM

Why? It's just a chunk of flesh, presumably in a transparent formaldehyde jar.

Because people are stupid. They'll take it out of the jar and then it's a health risk. Might as well nip it at the bud. It's not like you need your organs in a jar. Unless it's for your pagan Egyptian stuff, of course. winktongue

I am now known as Flyboy.
LoniJay from Australia Since: Dec, 2009 Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
#18: Aug 26th 2011 at 5:57:54 PM

I'm not sure I'd call it creepy, exactly... in that case my parents are creepy for having a lock of hair from my first haircut tucked away in my baby book.

I think the hygiene and disease thing is more an issue than creepiness.

Be not afraid...
USAF713 I changed accounts. from the United States Since: Sep, 2010
I changed accounts.
#19: Aug 26th 2011 at 5:59:20 PM

I think the hygiene and disease thing is more an issue than creepiness.

I agree. I wouldn't care too much if you kept, like, a tooth, or the aforementioned hair, since that's not really a health risk. An internal organ is basically "biohazard waiting to happen," though...

I am now known as Flyboy.
SavageHeathen Pro-Freedom Fanatic from Somewhere Since: Feb, 2011
Pro-Freedom Fanatic
#20: Aug 26th 2011 at 6:01:01 PM

Doesn't formaldehyde permanently dessicate and sterilize the fleshy squishy chunks'o'flesh that are put on it?

edited 26th Aug '11 6:01:57 PM by SavageHeathen

You exist because we allow it and you will end because we demand it.
LoniJay from Australia Since: Dec, 2009 Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
#21: Aug 26th 2011 at 6:04:11 PM

Well, the formaldehyde might be a health risk in itself. Some preserving agents are carcinogenic or teratogenic (that is, they can cause babies to be born deformed) not to mention poisonous if someone ingests them.

Be not afraid...
USAF713 I changed accounts. from the United States Since: Sep, 2010
I changed accounts.
#22: Aug 26th 2011 at 6:05:06 PM

Yeah... once again, Savage, that only works if you don't open the damn jar.

And people are, once again, stupid

I am now known as Flyboy.
Barkey Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
#23: Aug 26th 2011 at 6:05:09 PM

Partial femur replacement here.

Hasn't done me any favors to be honest.

SavageHeathen Pro-Freedom Fanatic from Somewhere Since: Feb, 2011
Pro-Freedom Fanatic
#24: Aug 26th 2011 at 8:08:36 PM

Then charge them for bulletproof, sealed jars with their squishy organic souvenirs on'em tongue.

You exist because we allow it and you will end because we demand it.
USAF713 I changed accounts. from the United States Since: Sep, 2010
I changed accounts.
#25: Aug 26th 2011 at 8:09:27 PM

[up] If it can be broken, and idiot will find a way to do it.

I am now known as Flyboy.

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