The facts about organ donation. discover...decide...discuss

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1 The facts about organ donation. discover...decide...discuss Your wish can save a life. But only if you tell someone! discover discover discover discover discover discover discover discover decide decide decide decide decide decide decide decide discuss discuss discuss discuss discuss discuss discuss discuss

2 discover discover discover discover discover DISCOVER the facts about donation What is organ and tissue donation? Organ and tissue donation is a life-saving and lifetransforming medical process where organs and tissues are removed from a donor and transplanted into someone who is very ill or dying from organ failure. While most transplants are performed after a donor s death, kidney and split liver transplants are possible from living donors. Australia has one of the highest transplant success rates in the world, and research shows that the majority of Australians support organ and tissue donation. Why is organ and tissue donation important? Organ and tissue donation saves and transforms lives. One donor can save the lives of up to 10 people and significantly improve the lives of dozens more. photo courtesy Marco Sacchi 2007 Liam is a liver recipient. Organ donation allows people like Liam to achieve.

3 discover discover discover discover discover Around 1700 Australians are waiting for a transplant on the official waiting list at any one time. Sadly Australians die each week waiting for the gift of a heart, liver, kidney, lung or pancreas transplant. Others spend weeks or months in hospital making several trips to hospital every week for dialysis or other treatment. Some people need to be attached to an oxygen tank 24 hours a day while they wait. Australia s record in positive transplant outcomes is among the best in the world. In 2009, 247 organ donors gave 799 Australians a new chance at life. This meant only one third of the overall need for transplants was met. The challenge is to greatly increase that number and help those on the waiting list. Why do people need transplants? People requiring organ transplants are usually very ill or dying because their own organ is failing. They range from young babies and children through to older people. People needing tissue transplants can also be of any age. In some cases, tissues can save lives. More often, they greatly improve the recipients lives. All donations and transplants are performed by specialised teams in the Australian public and private health system. Australia has strict ethical guidelines about allocation of organs. Allocation depends on a process that

4 discover discover discover discover discover includes urgency and the organ match. Other considerations include the length of time on the official waiting list, and whether recipients can get to hospital in time. A person s race, gender or status is not taken into consideration. Transplants that can be performed include: a kidney transplant as a result of disease or damage from an accident or trauma a heart transplant as a result of an inherited genetic condition, dilated cardiomyopathy, viral infection, rheumatic fever or damage from a chronic condition a lung transplant for genetic conditions such as cystic fibrosis, or illnesses that leave the lungs damaged, like emphysema a liver transplant following a serious medical condition such as haemocromotosis, autoimmune disease and hepatitis C heart tissue to repair congenital defects or replace defective valves due to rheumatic fever, degeneration or infection a pancreas transplant as a result of disease, usually diabetes a corneal transplant to restore sight in a partially or completely blind eye a skin graft to treat burns or infections a bone tissue transplant to help repair a fracture, strengthen a hip and knee joint replacement, or replace bone lost as a result of injury or tumour. In children and teenagers, bone tissue can help curvature of the spine (scoliosis).

5 discover discover discover discover discover How does the organ and tissue donation process work? When someone dies in a situation where they can become an organ donor, the intensive care medical team raises the possibility of donation with the family. The Australian Organ Donor Register is checked. If the person registered no, donation will not proceed. If the person registered yes as an organ donor or had not registered, a DonateLife donor coordinator will meet the family to talk about donation. The family is given time to make a decision. If they agree to donation, there is some paperwork to confirm the donation and which organs and tissue may be retrieved. After the organs and tissues are donated, the donor coordinator keeps in touch with the family to tell them about the success of the transplants and to provide support for them during their time of grief. Where can I find more information? Further information, contacts, resources, fact sheets, donor family and transplant recipient stories and more are all available on the DonateLife website:

6 decide decide decide decide decide DECIDE to become a donor Who can register? Anyone can register as a donor. Donations depend on where and how a donor dies and the condition of their organs and tissue. People with chronic health conditions and the aged can be donors. Only a few medical conditions preclude donation of organs. All major religions support organ and tissue donation and transplantation. People can also donate a kidney or part of their liver while they are still alive, though this is usually restricted to those wanting to save the life of someone they know.

7 decide decide decide decide decide The Australian Organ Donor Register is the official national register for organ and tissue donation. The register keeps a record of whether a person wishes to be a donor, and of the organs and tissues they agree to donate. Children cannot be registered by their parents, but that does not prevent them from being donors if the family approves. If you are under 18, or have children, discuss donation so your family is prepared if they need to make the decision. How do I register? Join the Australian Organ Donor Register, the national register administered by Medicare Australia. To join the register, go to or call or visit any Medicare office. Only authorised medical/healthcare personnel involved in organ and tissue donation have access to the Australian Organ Donor Register, so your privacy is secure. It s important to talk to your family about your decision to donate because donation will only proceed with their consent regardless of whether you are registered. Ian and Judy Baty have had the unique experience of seeing both sides of the donor story. Read their story at

8 discuss discuss discuss discuss discuss DISCUSS your decision with family If families know their family member s wishes, they are more likely to give consent for donation. Even if the deceased person had registered their wishes on the Australian Organ Donor Register, the family s consent will always be requested. For this reason, it is important to discuss your decision. It is your legacy. Discuss your decision with your family and also understand their wishes. How to start the discussion You can help your family and friends have and remember the discussion. Try to use everyday situations to start a discussion on important life issues, including what to do with your organs and tissues when you die.

9 discuss discuss discuss discuss discuss Some appropriate situations to discuss organ donation with your family could include: The next time your family sits down together for a meal Leaving home for the first time as a young adult Getting or renewing your driver s licence Celebrating an anniversary with your partner Having a significant birthday: 21, 30, 40, 50 or older Hearing about someone who has been a donor, needs a transplant or has had a transplant Watching donation and transplantation stories on TV or seeing a media article Seeing or hearing an ad about organ and tissue donation After a friend or family member dies When children discuss the topic at school. If you have already had a discussion with your family about your wishes, these events provide a good opportunity to repeat your wishes to ensure they are remembered. What do I discuss? Everyone has their own reasons for becoming a donor, and it is important that your family, partner and friends understand those reasons. The Wallis family thanks Lachy s donor family for the gift of a new liver. Read Lachy s story at

10 discuss discuss discuss discuss discuss Some potential discussion topics could include: Your own reasons for wanting to donate your organs and/or tissues Whether there is anything that you would not want to donate Asking your family what their reasons for or against donating their organs and tissues are Myths and misconceptions that people hold about organ donation Facts about organ and tissue donation Sharing some of the stories of organ and tissue donor families that are available on the DonateLife website: Sharing stories of organ and tissue transplant recipients that are available on the DonateLife website. It is important that your family remembers the discussion so that if they are ever faced with having to make the decision, they immediately know your wishes. It is also important that you know your family s wishes.

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12 DonateLife agency contacts ACT Canberra Hospital Yamba Drive, Garran ACT 2605 Phone: Fax: NSW Level 6, 4 Belgrave Street Kogarah NSW 2217 Phone: Fax: donatelifensw@donatelife.gov.au NT 1st Floor, Royal Darwin Hospital Rocklands Drive, Tiwi NT 0810 Phone: Fax: donatelife@nt.gov.au QLD Building 1, Level 4 Princess Alexandra Hospital Ipswich Road, Woolloongabba QLD 4102 Phone: Fax: queenslanders_donate@health.qld.gov.au SA Level 6, 45 Grenfell Street Adelaide SA 5000 Phone: Fax: donatelifesa@health.sa.gov.au TAS Hobart Corporate Centre Level 3, 85 Macquarie Street Hobart, TAS 7000 Phone: Fax: robert.thornton@dhhs.tas.gov.au VIC 538 Swanston Street Carlton VIC 3053 Phone: Fax: donatelife@arcbs.redcross.org.au WA 6th Floor, Albert Facey House 469 Wellington Street Perth WA 6000 Phone: Fax: donatelife@health.wa.gov.au Australian Organ and Tissue Authority Level 5, 51 Allara St Civic ACT 2600 Phone: Fax: enquiries@donatelife.gov.au discover discover discover discover discover discover discover discover decide decide decide decide decide decide decide decide discuss discuss discuss discuss discuss discuss discuss discuss