Just a note to let everyone know that, with today’s iOS10 release, iPhone users can now legally register as an organ, eye and tissue donor right on their phone. Click on the Medical ID tab within the Health app. (App also lets you share your decision with family and friends via social media, which is probably a good idea.)
More info at Registerme.org.
PS – For those who are interested, the story of my kidney donation to an animal rescuer. (One of the best things I’ve ever done, btw.)
Chyron HR
Good news, everyone! iPhone users can now be signed up by Guccifer to have their organs harvested!
Amir Khalid
For some reason, I think of John Cleese coming to harvest my liver with a par of bolt cutters.
geg6
I am holding off on downloading the update on my iPhone. I heard something on the morning news this morning that said there are some things you want to think about before doing it. And the implication is that it would be bad things.But it was just a teaser, so I’m holding off until I see the report and do some research on it.
But I don’t need to donate organs through my phone. I have already done it through my drivers license.
singfoom
Hillary, thank you for your donation. I’m sure other people have said thank you before especially your recipient, but as a kidney transplant recipient myself, thank you again. There’s way too many people out there waiting for an organ. It’s a life changing procedure. Was glad to read your story. Cheers.
TaMara (HFG)
Just one more thing on the list of awesomeness for you. :-)
JGabriel
Hillary Rettig @ Top:
I thought Apple already claims everyone’s organs when they click “I Agree” on the licensing terms.
Roger Moore
One important point, though, is that it isn’t enough to register as a donor. You also need to let your relatives and friends know about it too, so they can back up your expressed wishes. Like anything surrounding death, it can be a hard conversation to have, but it’s important to speak up. When I donated stem cells, I used it as an opportunity to let my family and friends know that I wanted to donate anything else useful from my body in the event of my death.
Trollhattan
@Amir Khalid:
Am the proud owner of an “Eric Idle took my liver” t-shirt purchased at his live show.
Hillary Rettig
@geg6: good work you!
Hillary Rettig
@Roger Moore: the social media function in the app can help with that. but you’re right: it’s probably better to have the talk first than springing it as a surprise announcement on your FB page.
The Other Chuck
@Roger Moore: I dunno that it’s even a hard conversation to have now. When I told my family, they said “well yeah, doesn’t everyone healthy do that?” and proceeded to show me the donor dots on their own licenses. And they’re not even particularly progressive or even socially conscious.
Roger Moore
@The Other Chuck:
It’s hard for a lot of people because there are social pressures against talking about death. There’s still vague superstition that talking about a bad event like death can bring it about, so people will avoid discussing things like organ donations or funeral planning even when the need to discuss the issues are staring them in the face.
? Martin
@geg6: No need to. There was a hiccup in the first hour of downloads, but 150 million people have already updated so it’s all good.
dmsilev
…but purchasers of iPhone 7s will be unable to register as eardrum donors.
sigaba
Obligatory Human CentiPad link.
Be sure to read the Terms and Conditions!
Starfish
Wow. You really love the animals and animal lovers more than I can imagine.
geg6
@? Martin:
Thanks! Good to know.
@Roger Moore:
This is why, when my mom died and I had to deal with her lawyer all the time as executrix of her will, I had a will and living will done. Plus talked to everyone about it. But you don’t have to talk if you have the will and living will.
different-church-lady
I wonder how many times a day Apple is going to nag me to upgrade in this edition.
Roger Moore
@geg6:
Don’t count on it. There are plenty of doctors out there who don’t want to follow living wills, DNRs, etc and will try to guilt-trip and browbeat patients’ families into approving heroic measures the patients have specifically rejected. Yes, you’ve spelled out your wishes clearly, but you need a person there to back up the piece of paper, and that’s a lot more likely to happen if you’ve made your wishes crystal clear to whomever will be talking to the doctor when the time comes.
Mike E
After charging you an arm and a leg, what’s an extra kidney amirite?
MomDoc
Thank you for your donation. As someone who is in the medical profession and on the kidney transplant list herself, I have experience on both sides of the issue. I have dealt with families at a loved one’s death and arranged a few organ donations. One had made the decision before death and the family agreed wth that decision. No drama there.
We also dealt with a family that had no idea of what the person who died wanted and actually had not considered the option of donation. They seemed really grateful for the choices.
When I was an intern, one of my supervising residents was a big proponent of talking to all patients admitted to his service about DNRs and organ donations. We were at the VA so most of our patients were willing to sign a DNR -fewer were donors. Our team was called the DNR team because everyone was so surprised. But I learned how to have the conversation– I wish more interns could learn as well.
Exit 135
Thank you Hillary. I received a cadaveric renal transplant at the University of Miami – Miller School of Medicine in 2008. An organ is truly a gift of life.
Tara the Antisocial Social Worker
My mother-in-law got sixteen precious years because of an organ donor. You bet everybody in our family has organ donor cards, and I’m on the bone marrow donor list as well. Whatever I’ve got that’s usable, take it.
Feathers
@Roger Moore: This is not true in every state. There is a push now to make the decision to donate organs one that cannot be revoked by next of kin. I know that this is the case in Massachusetts. I think it is one of those things where family approval was included to help gain approval for the organ donation program. Now approval for organ donation is so strong that people are surprised to learn that signing the card isn’t enough, your family has to agree as well. So now there is a push to make this the donation rules nationwide. Of course, in reality, there is sometimes the decision to forgo donation if the family is deeply and vocally opposed.
@MomDoc: In the more and more areas the topic of donation is now brought up, not by the patient/donor’s doctors or nurses, but by someone from the organ bank. Sometimes the regular case manager, but especially if there is no signed donor card or if there are challenging family dynamics a trained social worker will help the family with their decision. I’d want to be a donor just for my family to get the support network they now have for donor families.
workworkwork
@Roger Moore: True that. We just got back from the lawyer’s office. They helped my wife put together a living will and give me medical power of attorney (she has MS and is confined to a wheelchair).
We were sure to let family members know and I’ll be making copies of the documents.
chopper
apple needs organs? don’t they harvest plenty from their workers in china?