Minister Harney urges families to discuss the issue of organ donation

People should carry organ donation cards, and families need to discuss the issue of organ donation among themselves, the Minister for Health said following the publication of the HSE’s “Audit of Potential Organ Donors.”
The audit summarised the availability of organs for transplantation in a 12
month period in Ireland from September 2007 to August 2008:

200 patients were considered for brain stem death testing;
138 individuals were identified as suitable potential organ donors;
organ donation was discussed with next-of-kin in 133 cases;
consent was given in 92 cases;
90 organ donations took place;
13 potential donors had donor cards.

Among the reasons given by next-of-kin for not consenting were:

next-of-kin unsure of patient’s wishes;
next-of-kin divided on organ donation;
next-of-kin felt patient had suffered enough.

Mary Harney said: “I intend to bring proposals to Government this autumn that cover consent for organ donation and I will establish a specific office within the HSE with responsibility to monitor, review and improve organ donation and transplantation for Irish patients.”
IMT could not link to the HSE’s publication because the Executive’s website was “down for maintenance” at the time.