Why should you care?In 2004, 140 Australians lost their lives waiting fruitlessly on the organ transplant list. Organ donation is an issue that isn’t discussed much and one of the main concerns is the lack of awareness in Australia about how to become an organ donor.
So what’s happened?In April 2005, the Commonwealth Government sent a letter to everyone in Australia telling us about the changes to the Organ Donor Register. The register lets anyone 18 years and over formally record his or her decision to become an organ donor after death.
What changed?The major change was the opportunity to register your
intent (as opposed to
consent). But what does this mean for you?
If you are under 18 you can register your
intent to donate, which means you’ve said that it’s cool by you to donate your organs after death. However, it is ultimately up to your family to make the decision in that situation.
If you are 18 and over you can register
consent, which means you can give formal permission for your organs to be donated after death. This means you have already made the decision if that situation ever occurred so your family doesn’t have to do so. However, your family must support this decision, so if you do register your consent make sure you tell someone who cares!
If you do not want to be an organ donor that’s OK and you can register your objection, but remember to tell your family and friends about your decision.
When does a donor donate?Someone must be declared brain dead or heart dead before a donation can occur. Basically this means the brain and/or heart has stopped and there is no chance of recovery. This could result from a serious illness or an accident, but around 48% of donations come from people who have suffered a stroke. Most people who become donors have been on a ventilator in an intensive care unit.
Who benefits from organ donation and what can be donated?One organ donor has the potential to improve or even save the lives of around six to ten people on the transplant waiting list. Organs and tissues will only go to people who need them if you record your consent or intent on the register. Your organs will not be used for research.
There are many organs that can be donated and the donor can choose to donate all or only a few. The choices include:
- kidneys
- heart
- lungs
- liver
- pancreas.
Although it is called organ donation, body tissue can also be donated. The tissue choices include:
- heart valves
- bone tissue
- skin and eye tissue.
Blood donation is separate to organ donation.
Transplant Waiting ListsPeople who are in desperate need of an organ are put on to what is called a ‘transplant waiting list’. The amount of time that people will have to wait depends on how long they have already been waiting, how sick they are and their blood group and weight. The table below shows the number of people on the list at the beginning of 2005 and the estimated, average waiting time for a donation.
Why do some people say no?There are many people who choose
not become organ donors. Their reasons for opting out may include:
- religious beliefs, such as the desire to be reincarnated with the body in one piece
- squeamishness about the idea of their organs and tissues being removed
- not knowing enough about organ donation to make an informed decision.
How do I know this?The Age 2002,
Organ donation,
http://www.education.theage.com.au/pagedetail.asp?...Australians Donate,
http://www.organdonation.org.au/Better Health Channel 1999,
Organ donation,
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticl...Comparini, G 2003,
Becoming a donor,
http://journalism.berkeley.edu/projects/transplant...Medicare Australia,
About Australian Organ Donor Register,
http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/yourhealth/our...
