AMA urges more people to become organ donors
AMA Position Statement on Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation 2012
The AMA has developed a Position Statement on organ and tissue donation and transplantation.
The AMA supports organ and tissue donation and strongly encourages individuals to consider their views and discuss them with their family.
Having been prominent in publicly promoting organ and tissue donation for many years, the AMA felt it necessary and timely to develop a formal policy position on the issue.
AMA Vice President, Professor Geoffrey Dobb, said that the AMA Position Statement adds to the growing body of information publicly available to help people make informed choices about organ donation.
Professor Dobb said that people should also talk openly and ask questions about organ and tissue donation when they visit their family doctor.
“It is important that family members discuss the issues and are aware of each other’s organ donation wishes – and are prepared to honour those wishes,” Professor Dobb said.
“People can register their consent to become an organ donor on the Australian Organ Donor Register but their families will still be asked to provide the final consent.
“Around 1600 people are on the organ transplant waiting lists at any one time. One organ and tissue donor can save or enhance the lives of 10 or more people.
“Organ donation is a discussion that families need to have,” Professor Dobb said.
The AMA Position Statement on Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation 2012 addresses a broad range of issues including: determination of death; informed donor choice; donor families; living donors; allocation of organs and tissues; trafficking; workforce and infrastructure; quality and safety; and cultural sensitivities.
The AMA Position Statement on Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation 2012 is at http://ama.com.au/position-statement/organ-and-tissue-donation-and-transplantation-2012
AMA organ donation brochures are at http://ama.com.au/node/4018
26 June 2012
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