Our own mortality is not something we discuss often. It’s not exactly great dinner conversation to talk about what you want to happen after you die, but it is a vital conversation that needs to take place at some stage with those closest to us. That way if someone should ever have to make the tough choices for us, at least they know what our wishes are.

Organ donation in Australia is turned on its head at the moment; we have one of the world’s highest rates of transplant surgery success, but a much lower donation rate than any other established Western, Asian and European country. At any given time there is approximately 1600 people waiting on Aussie transplant lists and sadly, without enough donors, some of these people are dying waiting for a phone call.

One person can save the lives of up to 10 people and improve the lives of many more through organ and tissue donation. About 70% of people are registered as organ donors either through the Organ Donor Register online or by opting in on their drivers licence. When you register you can choose what you are happy to donate, whether that be some or all of what is suitable.

Suitable Organs kidney, liver, heart, lung and pancreas

Suitable Tissue heart valves, musculoskeletal tissue, skin and eye tissue.

You must be at least 16 years old to register and there is no age limit on donations of some tissue so never think you are too young, too old or too unhealthy to donate. Your health history will be taken into account of course, but there is very little that renders you incapable to donate at all.

Of all the deaths that occur in Australia, only about one in 200 is suitable for organ donation as there are quite strict requirements and death must happen in a hospital. Sadly, about 50% of families don’t know about their loved ones wish to donate and they deny consent, meaning only about one in 400 deaths actually result in organ donation. Even with these low figures in 2013, 1,122 Aussie’s received an organ transplant from 391 donors. Just imagine what we could achieve if we cut the denied consent rate in half!

Some families who deny consent are concerned that donation will affect funeral arrangements or be disrespectful to their loved one. Donations are only done by highly skilled medical staff and they do not change the person’s appearance or affect funeral arrangements at all. The donor is treated with the utmost respect and dignity by hospital staff as a way to honour their gift to so many others.

Tissue donation is a little different in that almost any death in Australia is suitable for tissue donation. Tissue can be donated up to 24 hours after death and stored for a period of time and does not require death under the same limited circumstances as organ donation. Tissue donation can restore sight, save the lives of babies born with congenital heart defects, help burn victims and more. It’s something we should all be seriously considering.

Do you know what your loved ones wishes are? Parents? Siblings? Your Partner?

Have the conversation and find out!

http://www.donatelife.gov.au/

http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/medicare/australian-organ-donor-register