Since the average cost of a UK funeral is almost 3000 pounds
currently and predicted to rise to over 4000 pounds by 2017 (1), it is
difficult to reconcile making such a comparatively large payment for the
funeral of a deceased donor whose expressed written consent prior to
death, exposes her or him to no personal risk , when at the same time,
HEFA is proposing just 750 pounds be paid to living egg donors (2), who
are exposed to a degree of risk - albeit small.
Other questions also remained unanswered such as how to ensure that
such funeral payments are used for their intended purpose or the
disincentive they might be to younger living donors who are not eligible
for the scheme and even if they were, could they be sure the scheme will
not be withdrawn before their own death at an increasingly likely old age
of over 100?
It is not only the Nuffield Council's mutually contradictory views on
relatives' veto of donors' wishes (3) that require considerably more
thought.
Rapid Response:
Costs vs risks in organ and egg donation
Since the average cost of a UK funeral is almost 3000 pounds
currently and predicted to rise to over 4000 pounds by 2017 (1), it is
difficult to reconcile making such a comparatively large payment for the
funeral of a deceased donor whose expressed written consent prior to
death, exposes her or him to no personal risk , when at the same time,
HEFA is proposing just 750 pounds be paid to living egg donors (2), who
are exposed to a degree of risk - albeit small.
Other questions also remained unanswered such as how to ensure that
such funeral payments are used for their intended purpose or the
disincentive they might be to younger living donors who are not eligible
for the scheme and even if they were, could they be sure the scheme will
not be withdrawn before their own death at an increasingly likely old age
of over 100?
It is not only the Nuffield Council's mutually contradictory views on
relatives' veto of donors' wishes (3) that require considerably more
thought.
1. Mintel data from http://www.co-operative.coop/funeralcare/Funeral-
Plans/content/what-are-funeral-plans/
2. Dyer C BMJ 2011 343 867
3. Strong CW, Shafer T BMJ 2011 343 860
Competing interests: No competing interests