Organ Donations
AUTHOR: Judy Turner
Have you given any thought to becoming an organ donor?
Have you ever discussed your views with your nearest and dearest?
There are two ways to be a donor. One is to be a live donor, giving one kidney or part of your liver.
The second is under more tragic circumstances, which requires the donor to be on a life-support machine where it has been determined that turning off the machine is the only option.
In those situations it is your family who ultimately get to decide if they will allow your organs to be harvested for use in needy recipients.
It is clear that when a family is unclear what your wishes are, they will more than likely say no.
In NZ we have a very low rate of donation which leaves those on waiting lists with pretty grim options.
I think the government should invest more in public education on this matter as it seems that our best chance of getting donor rates up is to have families discussing the matter openly before a crisis occurs.
What do you think could be done to improve donor rates?