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Australian Medical Association Strongly Supports DonateLife Week
September 15, 2016
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) strongly supports DonateLife Week, and is encouraging all Australians to strongly consider becoming an organ and tissue donor.
DonateLife Week 2016, which runs from 31 July-7 August, is dedicated to promoting organ and tissue donation. This year’s theme is What are you waiting for?, with a focus on encouraging all Australians to join the Australian Organ Donor Register.
AMA President, Dr Michael Gannon, said today that all Australians are strongly encouraged to both register, and to make their family aware of their decision.
“Australians should have informed discussions about organ donation with their families,” Dr Gannon said. “There are currently 1,500 people on organ transplant waiting lists at any one time. A single organ and tissue donor can directly save or improve the lives of 10 or more people.
“Registering is an important first step, but people need to discuss their decision with their family, as their next of kin willhave the final say. Organ donation is a discussion that families need to have.
The latest figures show 91 percent of families agreed to proceed with organ donation when their loved one was registered as an organ donor. 75 percent of families agreed to organ donation when they knew their loved one’s decision.
But only 52 percent of families agreed to organ donation when their loved one had not registered or discussed their donor wishes.
A single organ and tissue donor can directly save or improve the lives of 10 or more people.
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