Guest The Pom Queen Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 ORGAN donation in Australia is way behind the world leaders, according to international rankings that put the country in 21st place. Spain is the world leader, and France, the US, UK, Belgium and Norway are among the countries with higher proportions of donors than Australia. The figures compiled by Sharelife Australia draw on international donor data published by the Council of Europe. The data shows hundreds of Australians are missing out on life-saving transplants every year. This is because a $151 million, four-year package announced by the federal government in 2008 has failed to achieve its goal of establishing Australia as a world leader. There has been an improvement, says ShareLife spokesperson Sara Irvine, but Australia's progress is slower than many other countries. Australia's rate of organ donation is half that of the leading countries, and 1000 more transplants could be performed a year if it reaches the level of the top five countries. "We are still not in the top 20 nations and have long way to go," says ShareLife director Professor Allan Glanville, medical director of lung transplantation at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney. "Organ donation saves lives, saves money and improves quality of life. "You only need to talk to people who have been on kidney dialysis to see how well and productive they are after a kidney transplant. "The Spanish model is very compassionate. It is supportive of families." Family consent is needed, even if a person has opted in as a donor. In Spain, skilled organ donation specialists speak to family members, which improves the chances of donation. "They support families through what is an awful process." Prof Glanville says there are good people doing good work in Australia. "But we need to tweak the system so we are consistent from state to state." He questions why South Australia and Victoria have 20 deceased organ donors per million of the population and NSW has 14. "Australia needs to increase to 30 per million to be in line with the top four or five countries. "Change takes time, but unless we improve we are failing in our duty of care to our patients. "I have patients who are waiting for transplants and if they don't get a transplant they may well die." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skani Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 I think the "world leaders" all have an "opt out" system - ie. they will take your organs at death unless you have previously made a specific "no" request. Australia has an "opt in" system...and it's made more difficult by the fact that the family can refuse organ donation at death even though the deceased had previously given permission. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chardy Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 They need to stop being ridiculous about not letting us ex pats donate blood or organs just because we were alive during the mad cow disease period in the UK ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blossom Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 They need to stop being ridiculous about not letting us ex pats donate blood or organs just because we were alive during the mad cow disease period in the UK ! WHAT??? I knew we couldn't donate blood, but organs too???? Now I'm mega p'd off! I was just telling my boyfriend at the weekend the importance of my wishes to donate EVERYTHING they can possibly use. Skin, eyes, anything. Stupid bloody rules!! When I registered for donating they didn't ask if I had lived in the uk... But also, I was listening to a radio show a while ago about transplants and it is so behind here. Lots of the transplants they aren't even set up to do in SA. They have to go to other states. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chardy Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 Maybe I'm wrong then but assumed as the blood had been pumped around the organs for years they'd get written off too ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chardy Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 Donate-life states "may still be able to donate organs but not tissues" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Que Sera Sera Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 I assumed we couldn't donate anything too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 I think the "world leaders" all have an "opt out" system - ie. they will take your organs at death unless you have previously made a specific "no" request.Australia has an "opt in" system...and it's made more difficult by the fact that the family can refuse organ donation at death even though the deceased had previously given permission. Not all of them have an opt out , depending how far down the list you go I guess. UK (not including Wales which introduced opt out this year iirc) currently does not, Germany neither. US is opt in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlhall Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 You cannot donate blood in Australia if you were in the UK during the mad cow episode, that rule is enforced by the red Cross who collect the blood. You CAN donate organs as this is looked after by the government. its a stupid situation especially as incidents of humans showing any signs of mad cow is continually dropping and no epidemic of the human variant every materialized, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 I'm all for opt out. I also in the school of thought that if someone opts in, then the final decision should then not lie with family members but with their wishes of the donor allowing their organs to be donated. Too often families override those opt in wishes. Of course it's not easy to accept it's what your son, daughter, husband or wife wanted to do, but they wanted to try to help save lives in the event of their death. Let their wishes save lives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlhall Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 I'm all for opt out. I also in the school of thought that if someone opts in, then the final decision should then not lie with family members but with their wishes of the donor allowing their organs to be donated. Too often families override those opt in wishes. Of course it's not easy to accept it's what your son, daughter, husband or wife wanted to do, but they wanted to try to help save lives in the event of their death. Let their wishes save lives. I totally agree, Potential donors should make sure their family is fully informed of their wishes. I have ensured all my relatives know what my wishes are and if a donor has expressed a wish to donate then it should be legally enforceable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Que Sera Sera Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 I honestly think that when I'm dead I'm dead my body is no used to me and anyway I want to be cremated so it'll all go up in flames anyway. I want them to take what they need. Typical though bet they still leave me with my fat :laugh: They probably won't want my second hand liver either, too much wear and tear ! :wink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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