How a simple policy change could increase organ donation

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

In Quebec, Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, individuals must sign either the back of their health care card, use a sticker, or fill out a separate form to become a potential donor. Ontario and B.C. have organ donation registries, requiring individuals to sign up.

In practice, next of kin have final say in deciding whether an individual’s organs will be donated, allowing physicians to maintain a high level service with grieving families.

In contrast to this approach, many European countries follow a policy of presumed consent: people are presumed to have given consent to donate organs unless they actively decide to “opt-out” of an organ donation plan. The family veto option is informally applied in many cases.

Whether the default consent is presumed or informed has a significant impact on organ donations. On average, presumed consent results in donation rates roughly 20 to 30 per cent higher than informed consent.

The trouble with presumed consent is that the state appears to be coercing individuals, so it may not receive much public support. Better options to increase donation rates would be called “embedded request” or “mandated choice.”

Read the full article at thestar.com

Kidney donors likely to live as long as others

Friday, April 02, 2010

A study by Johns Hopkins University researchers found that for most of those who have donated one of their two kidneys to someone who needed it, the surgery carries very little medical risk. In fact, live kidney donors live just as long as people who have never donated a kidney.

The study, published in JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, looked at more than 80,000 Americans who have donated a kidney over the last 15 years. The researchers found that the long-term risks were low.

Read the full article on ctv.ca

Organ donation: Are you registered?

Thursday, January 28, 2010

CBC gives a report that Ontario’s organ transplants reached a record number in 2009, according to the Trillium Gift of Life Network. The article describes upward trend in people registering but one reader’s feedback comment seems especially true.

hedgehog wrote: More than just signing a card or registering on your health card… speak openly and honestly with your next of kin. In the end, they will be the ones making the decision. Sure they can be told (at the worst possible time) that you signed a card, but far better to have that discussion with them yourself and make sure they know you wish to help save lives when yours must come to an end.

Read the full article on cbc.ca