Organ hopefuls die waiting

Every year hundreds of Australians die waiting for organs and tissues that are in short supply. In fact, Australia has one of the lowest rates of organ donation in the world. For those on waiting lists, a transplant offers the last hope of survival or a greatly improved quality of life. Yet in 2006, there were only 10 donors for every million people in Australia. This is surprising because studies have shown that most Australians support organ donation. However, relatively few make their wishes known by registering their consent or telling their family members.

Organ donation is a procedure where one person receives organs or human tissues from a deceased person. These organs are transplanted into the person in hospital to save their life or improve their quality of life. Organs that can be donated in Australia include the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys and pancreas. These are needed to treat organ failure which does not respond to medication or other therapies. Tissues that can be donated include bone, heart valves, skin and the cornea – a clear layer on the front of the eye.

As Manager of LifeGift (NSW/ACT), Patricia Wills is all too aware of the importance of organ donation. LifeGift provides organ donation services and is part of the Australian Red Cross Blood Service. She says, "There are more than 1800 Australians on the waiting list and nearly 20% of those waiting for a liver, heart or lung transplant will die before an organ becomes available."

Australia’s rate of organ donation is low at only 10 donors per million population. Patricia Wills believes this may be because "Australians don’t generally talk about death. Many potential donations don’t go ahead because their family do not know their wish to be an organ donor." Further, only 1% of people die in circumstances where donation is possible. This is why it is important for people to register their consent with the Australian Organ Donor Register.

At a time of personal loss and tragedy, families who consent to organ donation may be comforted by knowing that their relative has given the greatest gift of all – the gift of life. In 2006, Majella Lazenby wrote an article called ‘A family’s perspective on organ donation’ in the Australian Nursing Journal. In the article, she gives a moving account of her own experiences after the sudden death of her teenage daughter. She writes that, "In the midst of our horrific pain, I just knew this was the only thing to do." She was confident in her decision because her daughter had told her mother of her intention to donate. For many, the loss and pain associated with losing a loved one will continue forever. However, some may find comfort in the fact that some ‘good’ has come from their relative’s death.

Australia is fortunate to have highly skilled transplant specialists, which means we have one of the highest success rates for organ transplantation in the world. In practical terms, this means that, "one organ donor can save up to ten peoples’ lives," says Patricia Wills. It is hoped that through education and awareness, organisations such as LifeGift can encourage people to register their formal consent to organ and tissue donation.

For more information on organ and tissue donation and how to become a donor, please see our article on organ and tissue donation.

References

West R, Burr G. Why families deny consent to organ donation. Australian Critical Care 2002; 15(1): 27-32.
Department of Health and Ageing, 2007. Organ and Tissue Donation Statistics. Canberra, Australia.
Australia and New Zealand Organ Donation Registry (ANZODR) 1995. Organ donation attitudes research. As cited in West R, Burr G. Why families deny consent to organ donation. Australian Critical Care 2002; 15(1): 27-32.
National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) 2007. Making a Decision about Organ and Tissue Donation after Death. Canberra, Australia.
Mathew T, Chapman J. Organ donation: a chance for Australia to do better. Medical Journal of Australia 2006; 185(5): 245.
Australians Donate, Media Release, 18 February 2007. Collaborative hospitals increase organ donor rates by one third. Available at: http://www.australiansdonate.org.au/ [accessed 14/1/08]
Lawrence A. Presumed consent under Australian law. Paper prepared for the Australian Medical Association (AMA). 2004.