Families told to share wishes
Sydney Morning Herald
Wednesday December 23, 2009
PASS the prawns, top me up, and please give my corneas away when I'm gone.It is not a typical request at a family repast, but that is what organ donation advocates would like people to discuss this festive season - because well-meaning families are getting in the way of organ transplants, even when a dead relative consents to it.Regardless of whether someone has indicated they want to donate their organs, doctors still need to ask the next of kin for permission - and only 56 per cent of families say yes.Many say no because they do not know their relative's wishes, according to the Australian Organ and Tissue Authority.It surveyed 3800 people and found we know less than we think about what our next of kin wants when they are gone.The survey found 94 per cent of people were likely to say yes to donation if they knew their next of kin's wishes, but if they did not know them, only 41 per cent would say yes.And while 86 per cent of people who want to be donors believe their next of kin knows this, only 48 per cent are aware of these wishes.That disconnect means there are 1700 Australians on official transplant waiting lists who may not need to be there.The chief executive of the authority, Karen Murphy, asked families to discuss donation in the coming weeks "because that conversation can save lives"."It's the family consent rate that we need to improve. We would like to see about 80 per cent [saying yes] and the lift in lives saved would be massive," she said.Families can download a form to record their wishes at www.donatelife.gov.au.The authority's national medical director, Dr Gerry O'Callaghan, said myths persisted about organ donation: "Some Australians [22 per cent] believe the myth that doctors will not work as hard to save their lives if they were an organ donor."Another myth that some [19 per cent] mistakenly believe is that a person's body will be disfigured and mutilated. This is not the case ... Surgery is undertaken with dignity and respect."
© 2009 Sydney Morning Herald
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