Estate Planning

Television Show ER's Last Season: Organ Donation In Prime Time

By Administrator

The television show ER is in its final season. All of the former stars and characters are coming back. Remember Dr. Benton? Or how about Dr. Ross? Last night's episode focused partially on organ donation. It was a poignant reminder that if you have strong feelings about organ donation, that you should make it known in writing. Family members struggle when their loved ones are dying or have died and there's a decision to be made with respects to organ donation.

What ever your feelings on this topic -- please make them known -- all family members and other loved ones want to do is make decisions based on your wishes. (Sometimes there's a conflict, of course and it could happen.) Having your decisions or wishes with regards to organ donation in writing is the best way to ensure that your decisions or wishes are followed.

In California, your feelings about organ donation can be included in your Advance Health Care Directive. Things to include:

• Whether you want your organs, tissues and other body parts donated.
• Whether you want to limit the types of organs, tissues or body parts to be donated. Say for science or transplant purposes only.
• Whether you do not want to donate your organs, tissues or body parts for any reasons.

Also in California, you can indicate your feelings about organ donation on your Driver's License. Click here for more information. This site by the DMV has other great links regarding organ donation including information regarding registries for organ donation.

Newsweek also featured an interesting article in January about organ trafficking.  Click here to read the article.

What ever your wish, put it in writing. It is the best gift you can leave for your family and loved ones.

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Estate Planning, Probate and Trusts involve complex areas of law. Individual circumstances must be considered before any advice can be given.  The general information above is not to be construed as legal advice, which can only be given after consideration of the unique facts of each matter. Please seek the advice or counsel of your attorney, financial advisor or CPA as it may be appropriate.

Full post as published by Estate Planning Practice Blog on March 13, 2009 (boomark / email).