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Australian Medical Association Urges Organ Donors To Make Their Wishes Known

Health and Medical News - Transplants & Organ Donations
Monday, 18 February 2008
During Australian Organ Donor Awareness Week, the AMA is urging Australians who wish to be organ donors to make their intent clear by registering as a donor and talking to their family about their wishes. AMA President, Dr Rosanna Capolingua, said one of the most general reasons a potential organ donor is lost is owing to their family didn't know their loved one wanted to donate their organs or tissue. "It's meaningful to talk to family members about organ and tissue donation," Dr Capolingua said. "Families can still provide assent to donate for people who haven't registered on the Australian Organ Donor Register. "But if a potential donor hasn't registered and their family is not aware they wish to be an organ donor, the family might reject to donate the organs and tissue." Dr Capolingua said Australia's organ donation rates are too low and fall well short of meeting demand. "As of January this year, there were 1,875 people waiting for organ transplants. Many of them will have to wait up to 3 years." In Australia, there are presently only 9.8 organ donors per million population. Dr Capolingua said every new organ donor can make a difference. "Up to ten people can receive organs and tissue from just one donor. That's ten lives that benefit due to just one person. "Organ donation can also help decrease the financial burden on our health system. Organ transplants are far more cost effective than other forms of treatment in the long term." Australian Medical Association

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