'Presumed consent' in organ donation would save lives

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'Presumed consent' in organ donation would save lives

Mandy Sayer
February 24, 2008

MY BROTHER has just urinated for the first time in 7½ years. It's been a week since his kidney transplant and, even though his blood pressure is high and he's still in pain, his expression of sheer elation was unmistakable.

A former athlete, Jason was suddenly diagnosed with kidney failure at 25. Since then he has experienced various forms of dialysis, the last of which was provided by a machine in his bedroom, eight hours a night, five nights a week. His dependence on the machine severely limited his social life, his working life, and his ability to travel.

Jason has never enjoyed the fun of camping, a road trip, or an overseas holiday. When our mother was dying two years ago, he had to leave her bedside and go onto dialysis two floors down from where she eventually passed away.

His dependence on the machine also nearly took his life on many occasions: there would often be a malfunction of the unit, or electrical problems. Some nights he'd wake up covered in blood and would have to call an ambulance.

He is just one piece of a broader picture. One in seven Australians aged over 25 have at least one clinical sign of chronic kidney disease, such as reduced kidney function. Each week, one Australian dies waiting for a kidney transplant.

More than 1800 Australians are waiting for an organ transplant — kidneys, livers, lungs, hearts and pancreases.

When first diagnosed, my brother was assured he'd only have to wait two to three years for a transplant. At the time, that seemed to him — and the family — like an eternity. As the years came and went, it stretched into an endless, cruel uncertainty.

It's no secret that Australia has one of the lowest rates of organ donation in the world. And yet Australia has one of the highest rates of recycling in the world. Apparently, we're comfortable with recycling as long as it involves plastic, paper and glass. But it seems to me that saving thousands of human lives should be at least as important as trying to save the environment.

When cricketer David Hookes died, his organ donations rescued several people from premature death. Inspired by his generosity, Australians were prompted to register as donors. But after the publicity faded, so too did interest in the issue. In fact, last year the number of transplants slightly decreased.

The Rudd Government has promised to streamline the organ donor system in Australia. But no amount of efficient administration will work without donated organs. We should consider the Spanish model of "presumed consent", in which everyone is considered a donor unless they stipulate otherwise.

I believe most Australians, in theory, would not be so self-centred as to deny strangers the gift of life after their own passing.

The many people I've discussed this issue with have no problem with post-death donation — the problem is that they never get around to registering at a Medicare office.

And of those who have registered, according to Transplant Australia, 75% haven't discussed the decision with their families, the very ones who will have the final say. Presumed consent relieves the family of a potential donor from having to make a difficult decision on behalf of their deceased loved one.

If intentions are stated clearly while the potential donor is alive, the process works for everyone. It's not enough to have your intentions stated on your driver's licence, which your relatives can easily overrule after your death. Presumed consent eliminates procrastination, miscommunication, and the unnecessary loss of hundreds of lives.

Remember, you can't take your organs with you. Well, you can, but wherever you're going, I don't think you'll need them.

Mandy Sayer is editing a book of thank you letters from organ recipients to families of deceased donors.

sayer75@gmail.com.

This story was found at: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/02/23/1203467454575.html