AMA welcomes increase in organ donations

“We look forward to further benefits from recent Government initiatives and greater action in all States to push up Australia’s donor rate,” Professor Dobb said.

Figures released by the Government yesterday show a 19 per cent increase in organ donation and transplantations in the first five months of this year, compared to the same period in 2010.

Professor Dobb said that while the increase is encouraging, Australia is still behind the donor rates in countries like Spain, Belgium, the USA, or France.

“It will require a combination of public education and further improving the coordination and collaboration in public hospitals,” Professor Dobb said.

“Getting the organ donation message out to the public is all-important.

“People need to know that they can choose to become an organ donor and how to do it.

“They can register their consent or their objection on the Australian Organ Donor Register.

“When an individual has registered their consent or their objection to being a donor, their family members will still be asked to provide the final consent.

“Potential donors should not assume they are too old, too young, or too sick to become an organ and tissue donor.

“They should talk to their GP about becoming an organ and tissue donor and, most importantly, they should talk to their family to make sure they are aware of the decision to become a donor.

“While increasing the number of donors is vital, it is also important that our hospitals are suitably staffed and resourced to coordinate the entire donation process.

“They need to cover the identification of potential donors, the sensitive communication and support of donor families at a time of grief, and follow-up and family counselling when this is needed,” Professor Dobb said.

14 June 2011

CONTACT:         John Flannery                       02 6270 5477 / 0419 494 761

Follow the AMA Media on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ama_media

Follow the AMA President on Twitter: http://twitter.com/amapresident