Organ Donation

Organ shortage

Australia’s organ donation rates are at a staggering low, and as a nation for successful transplant outcomes, it is evident that Australia is failing to maximise their health care facilities. However, this could easily be changed with the implementation of a policy change to the opt-out system. Currently, Australia has an opt-in organ donation policy that does not make organ donation compulsory, and registration through the Australian Organ Donation Register is essential in order for organ donation to occur. The policies in Australia are extremely strict in comparison to the opt-out policy in foreign countries such as France, Italy and Spain who have 25 to 30% higher organ donation rates than countries with the opt-in policy (WHO, 2015). Although the current organ donation policy in Australia is working to some extent, it is evident that our nation is failing as a whole to maximise our facilities and save lives. In order to change this and increase the donation rates in Australia, a policy change is essential.

Organ donation is the process of surgically removing an organ or tissue from one person (the organ donor) and placing it into another person (the recipient). Transplantation is necessary because the recipient's organ has failed or has been damaged by disease or injury (Cleveland Clinic, 2016). This process is so important because one organ and tissue donation can transform the lives of 10 or more people (DonateLife, 2014). In Australia it is the law that the senior available next of kin of the deceased person must consent to the removal of organs and tissues from the body and transplanting it to the body of a living person for the use of tissue or other therapeutic purposes (Transplantation and Anatomy Act, 1979). However, according to Donate life in 2014 “41% of people don’t know their loved ones organ donation decisions”. This evidently demonstrates that the donation wishes of the deceased may not be met, because family members are not communicating about their donation decisions. While Australia is a world leader for successful transplant outcomes, there are appallingly low donation rates, with Queensland obtaining the lowest of 15.1 donors per million people (Donate life, 2014).  This in comparison to Spain, the gold standard in organ donation and has 35.5 organ donors per million people (Sydney Lupkin, 2013). This clearly demonstrates how poorly the opt-in policy is working within Australia, and highlights the need to create a new healthy public policy.

Some experts are under the impression that the opt-out organ donation system does not increase donation rates. Share Life identified that “Some countries that have introduced the opt-out system legislation observed an immediate decrease in their organ donation rates, and there are currently countries with such legislated and very low decreased donation rates” (2012). However in fact, it is evident that the opt-out system is proven to be extremely successful, with countries such as France, Italy and Spain having 25 to 30% higher donation rates (WHO, 2015).  Prevailing myths that people are “too old to donate” or “too unhealthy to donate” are also contributors to the low organ donation rates in Australia (DonateLife, 2014). While these myths are commonly believed, people in their 70’s and 80’s have saved lives through organ and tissue donation, along with people who smoke or make bad lifestyle choices (DonateLife, 2014). It is clear that Australian’s lack personal skills and education on organ donation, hence why the myths are commonly believed. Although, the donation decisions of some individuals can also be due to their religion or attitudes and beliefs.

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