It follows the lives of 3 children - Ruth, Kathy and Tommy, who at first glance appear to be normal children residing at an up-market boarding school in the idyllic English countryside. It is later revealed that these 3 children, along with their fellow students at Hailsham and countless others across the UK were bred for the sole purpose of organ donation, as part of the National Donor Program in the UK in the '70s and '80s. For me, the most tormenting part of the film was the final line, stated by Kathy as she contemplates the ruins of her childhood and considers whether her fate is really any different from the people who will receive her organs after all: "We all complete. Maybe none of us really understand what we've lived through or feel we've had enough time."
In the movie, most of the donors 'completed' prior to reaching the age of 30, after their third or fourth donation (usually being the donation of their heart). The fact that these thousands of children were so institutionalised that they were unable to be independent or informed in their decision making or in everyday life, meant that they believed that their sole purpose in life was nothing more than to donate their vital organs. As such, they became the victims of an archaic and monstrous National health system, completely lacking the ability to argue against this purpose, or to state their wishes, hopes and dreams for their own lives.
Don't get me wrong. Having a gorgeous aunty (whom I am very, very close to) whose life was saved in 1990 by the selfless gift from a grieving family - their 16 year old daughter's heart (after being tragically killed in a motor accident), I am a huge advocate of organ donation. In fact, I myself am an organ donor and think that this is the greatest gift you could give anyone who is suffering and so desperately in need.
Australia has one of the lowest rates of organ donation in the developed world, but I am completely and utterly opposed to the concept of people being bred and groomed throughout their childhood and teenage years for this specific purpose, only to 'complete' prior to reaching 30. The fact that countless life-saving organs are effectively wasted when someone is buried or cremated, means that they could be better used to save the dying - if only people registered as donors and expressed their wish to donate, to their loved ones. This is crucial as they will ultimately have the final say and must consent to your organs being used for transplant to save the life of another human being.
Here's some very sad stats about organ donation in Australia:
Did you know?
- One organ and tissue donor can save the lives of up to ten people and significantly improve the lives of dozens more.
- Around 1700 people are on Australian organ transplant waiting lists at any one time.
- On average, people on the transplant list must wait between 6 months and 4 years.
- In 2010, 309 organ donors gave 931 Australians a new chance in life.
- In 2008, 1096 people donated their corneas. As a result, 1696 people had their sight restored.
To find out more about organ donation and to register your wishes to donate (and notify your loved ones of these wishes by sending a cool, personalised video clip), click here http://www.donatelife.gov.au/
What better way to save the life of one person (or several) who are so desperately in need, as well as preserving the memory of a loved one? In fact, it gives a whole new meaning to Never Let Me Go.
Love,
Miss Manly x
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