Is it legal, if someone is in a coma and are going to 'pull the plug', to give their organs away?

Question

I mean, I know humans aren't a meat shop but instead of letting the person die, why not let someone else or many people live because of them? Brain-dead people can give their organs..I was just wondering if coma patients can't because they're still alive or something.

I'm sorry if I offended anyone or anything.

Answer 1

My daughter passed away 4 years ago,  she could not be an organ donor because they did not know the time of death(auto accident).  She did become a bone and tissue donor and helped 66 people lead better lives.  (She gave skin, bone, shunts for the heart, tendons and many other things).  I just wanted to point that out because most people don't know those can be donated as well,

As for your question, they HAVE to be brain dead.  A coma or pulling the plug has nothing to do with it.  The Red Cross is not notified till AFTER  a person has died and there are many rules that have to follow.  They don't even check the data bases to see if you are a donor till they know you are dead for sure.   After the person has died will they contact you(family) to ask your permission.

By the way, to many people are afraid to ask.  When they were done with her, she looked normal in every way at her funeral.

(no offense taken)

Later--- it is illegal to give someone up to donate when they are in a coma.  They only come to the family when they know for sure they are brain dead.  It would be nice if we were absolutely sure but many miracles do happen and they don't want to take the chance.  I think my daughter would have been willing if it had been the case with her.  Chances are she would've lived like a vegetable had she lived and she would've not liked that  We talk about all this 3 weeks before she died.  She was trying to get me to sign a donor card.

The best thing to do is make sure everyone you know and love knows your intentions.

Answer 2

in the uk you have to wait till they are brain dead that will happen when all life support is removed.there is also no garrentee that thier organs will be suitable for donership.This happened to my mum, her internal organs were too messesed up to donate unfortunatly. it would have been great to know she had helped others live it would have made some sense to her death. i would always urge next of kin to give thier permission for this but it doesn,t suit everybody.and the decision has to be made very quickly after death not the best time. carrying a donercard can help take the desicion away from loved ones.some countries have a database of doners that you can join so you dont have to make the decision at a very emotional time. god bless

Answer 3

I think you are confusing being in a coma with being brain dead and on life support.  People can survive in comas for years with supportive care.  Many people awaken from comas....not all comatose patients are brain dead.The use of a feeding tube would be your only argument as a form of life support.  But denying a feeding tube would produce death by starvation, which differs from turning off machines that support breathing and heart function. I think you misunderstand the definition of coma.

Answer 4

i read an article about this in people magazine a while ago. The family had a kid who was in a coma and they gave his organs away before he was fully dead. (he was going to die soon though) They went to court and everything.

Its probably illegal because that would mean that the doctor or whoever killed the patient because people in coma are not actually dead. It would be murder

Answer 5

The person who has the legal authority to 'pull the plug' has the authority to authorize or deny their organ donation.  It may be, that due to their illness, it would be inappropriate to do so.  It would be a decision between the guardian and the doctor.