Australians urged to donate organs

Australians urged to donate organs
February 18, 2007 02:24pm
Article from: AAP

THE failure by many Australians to register their consent for organ donation is preventing donation in one third of cases.

The difficulty in obtaining consent has been revealed by death audits conducted at 22 Australian hospitals, Australians Donate National Organ Donation Collaborative chairperson Marcia Coleman said today, the first day of Organ Donor Awareness Week.

"This finding highlights the pressing need for Australians to register their consent on the Australian Organ Donor Register and to obtain an organ donor card from Medicare Australia,'' Ms Coleman said.

Australians Donate is conducting a two month trial to allow Australians to request information by SMS about registering to donate organs, Ms Coleman said.

The decision to donate an organ could take many years to come to fruition and the SMS trial would provide the most convenient means to contact AODR once a decision had been made, she said.

Health Minister Tony Abbott echoed AODR's calls for Australians to consider agreeing to organ donation, saying one person a week died while waiting for a lifesaving kidney transplant.

"Many families are unaware of their relatives' intention to become an organ donor,'' Mr Abbott said.

"Discussing the issue at home can help to ensure that a person's wish to give the gift of life is carried out.''

Last year 731 Australians received organ transplants from just 202 donors who had died, he said.

To use the information service, SMS the word "donate'' to 194 440, or phone 1800 77203.