Page 634 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 9 March 2011
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a decision, only 60 per cent give consent for the donation to proceed. Interestingly, 93 per cent say they would respect the wishes of a loved one. This suggests that education is pivotal to ensure donors inform their loved ones of their decision.
The recent DonateLife events, especially the morning walk around the lake, which has already been mentioned, attended by over 1,800 locals, and the awards which recognise people’s contributions, suggest that much is happening to promote and support organ donation. The Greens believe more work should be done to improve donation rates.
A number of jurisdictions are looking at legislative change, with the aim of increasing donation rates. The Western Australian parliament has discussed opt-out legislation. If opt-out legislation was passed, organs could be used or organ donations could proceed from anyone other than those who have actively opted out. There are, of course, ethical considerations that must be addressed, and we acknowledge that there would need to be extensive consultation on this issue. I will watch the progress of the work in Western Australia with interest and suggest others do as well. I note that organ donation promotion was discussed at a recent health ministers meeting where there was agreement that our donation rates needed to be improved.
As Mr Hanson has already mentioned, there are currently 1,700 Australians on a waiting list for a donor organ and some will die waiting. While I have acknowledged the generous gifts of donors, it is important that people understand the suffering of those with chronic conditions as they await a transplant. And one such story I will now relate.
Brad lives in Batemans Bay and is 47. He has had type 1 diabetes since he was six. In the mid-1990s he was diagnosed as legally blind. In 2001 he had had both his toes amputated and, after a slight stroke, his left leg. Sometime after this, Brad received a kidney and pancreas transplant. He recovered well. Unfortunately his right foot and then his leg below the knee were also amputated as a result of damage suffered prior to the transplant.
Brad and his wife are inspirational people. In August 2007, they established the Eurobodalla Renal Support Group and Organ Donor Awareness Education. They are dedicated to providing community awareness about kidney health, organ donation and transplantation. Unfortunately, despite the generosity of a donor, Brad lives with considerable morbidity. And we need to ask the question: could this have been avoided with an earlier transplant?
Another story is from Jessica. Jessica did not believe she would see her 18th birthday. She was close to death when she received a double-lung transplant after cystic fibrosis left her unable to walk, speak or even breathe without assistance.
I personally know someone who required a transplant and who spent a number of years on dialysis waiting for a transplant. I clearly recall the day he got the call telling him that an organ had become available and the transformation this made to his life, just hearing that decision, knowing he would get that donation, and now the huge difference it has made to his life, having that transplant and that organ donation, and what impact it has on his family as well. It is quite an amazing thing to see.
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