How soon do you want to donate ?

2008 The Cutting Point

Does your Drivers Licence tag you as an organ donor? Under certain circumstances that could mean they are doing a "Slow Code" on you when you decide to check out...

Ok, so you are in the prime of your life and you decide that if you are in a fatal car crash you want to be noble and donate any usable body parts to those that need them. You answer "Yes" at the DMV when asked if you want to be an organ donor and they label your drivers licence as such.

Now the reality of what you have done...

Yes, if you are in that fatal crash and someone checks your ID they will take you to the nearest hospital and inform your family that you are an organ donor and that you will be quickly carved up to help those in need of transplants just as you wanted to happen.

But... chances are that most of us will die in an ER or withering away in a hospital bed (take this as fact from someone who has seen many die, has saved many lives, and even pulled the plug on others).

Given this, when you show up in the ER because your heart stopped and you are identified as an organ donor, a quick assessment of your general "usability" will be done, and the nearest donor facility will be notified.

But...Let's suppose you end up in a hospital Intensive Care Unit. The outlook for you is grim, yet either you or your family have labeled you (on paper) as a "Full Code" (in other words; to perform all life saving measures)

Now remember that the staff already knows that you are an organ donor. The "usability" of your body has most likely been discussed during the coarse of your stay and an organ donor facility has been told of your presence. But yet you are a "Full Code" and life saving measures must be enacted. So what happens when your heart decides to give up or you succumb to multi system failure? A "Slow code" is then often performed.

What is a "slow code"? Well, that is when the thumping on your chest is done very slowly and just enough medication is given to keep you somewhat alive so the eventual outcome WILL be your death. No heroic measures are done in your behalf. Yet, the code was performed.

Just before your death or shortly after, a pair of individuals will arrive with coolers. Yes, that's right...Coleman coolers. They will stand outside the area and wait for the time of death to be stated and then you will become the donor that you signed up to be.

I don't know about you, but if I do not go out in that fiery car crash or shot in head at the post office or mall... they better thump hard and fast on me because "grim" is not always a guarantee. Because miracles DO happen. Besides...my creditors would rather have me get to work and pay some bills. Just something to think about...