Presumed consent makes sense
By Lynne Bell
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听听听听听听听听听听听 Until recently, I was unaware of the 鈥減resumed consent model鈥� regarding organ donation. It is already in use in over 20 European countries and although I believe very much in an individual's right to choose, I can't help but think that this is an idea Canadians should consider.
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淧resumed consent鈥� essentially flips our current system. Instead of signing up to be an organ donor, one is automatically assumed to be a potential donor, unless they indicate specifically that they don't want to be one.
听听听听听听听听听听听 With too many Canadians essentially living in limbo-and sadly, sometimes dying-while waiting on organ听 transplant lists, the idea of presumed consent is both a practical and compassionate solution. Currently, this country has one of the lowest organ donation rates in the developed world. If nothing else, a debate around presumed consent would serve to further raise awareness and underscore the urgency around organ donation.
听听听听听听听听听听听 Right now in Canada, only patients who are on ventilators in hospital can become organ donors, as oxygenated blood must be kept circulating through organs for as long as possible in order for them to be successfully transplanted. Additionally, these potential donors must also be declared brain dead, sometimes from circumstances such as suffering a severe stroke, but most often from injuries from motor vehicle or other accidents. These circumstances alone mean that the pool of potential organ donors is a very small one.
听听听听听听听听听听听 Although statistics from 2012 show that Spain (which has a presumed consent system) has a rate of 31 donors per million citizens compared to Canada's rate of 13 donors per million, the process in which organs are donated, and ultimately, transplanted have more similarities than differences.
听听听听听听听听听听听 Doctors in countries which have a presumed consent system still talk to the families of a patient who is a potential donor for their approval, and oddly enough, organs are not harvested or transplanted any faster than they are here in Canada.
听听听听听听听听听听听 So why should this country adopt presumed consent?
听听听听听听听听听听听 I would argue that adopting a presumed consent model regarding organ donations would bring the next necessary shift in addressing our attitudes around organ donation. If we think about it less as a gift we bestow upon another person and more as the next logical step towards building and strengthening an even stronger donation culture, then adopting the presumed consent model in our country makes sense.
听听听听听听听听听听听 The government-via doctors-will not come in and help themselves to the organs of brain dead people on life support under a system of presumed consent. If a person has previously specified that they do not want to be an organ donor, those wishes will be respected. However, if our system assumes that we are all potential donors, not only will the burden of such a decision will lifted from the loved ones we leave behind; someone, somewhere, will get a second chance at life.
听听听听听听听听听听听 Presumed consent is just the next step towards that second chance becoming someone's reality.
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Your choice to donate
By Kelly Running
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听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Is it right to expect all people to be organ donors or is it a choice for that individual and their family to make?
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 The situation revolving around transplants is a difficult one. There are willing donors for kidneys and partial livers, as the human body can function with one kidney and the liver does grow back, but what happens when someone needs a transplant of a vital organ, something we can鈥檛 live without, like a heart.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Although transplant lists are long and a donor, who has died, must have passed away under certain circumstances for the transplant to be viable.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 So, should it be a choice for those that pass away under the right circumstances to be a donor or should it be mandatory.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Currently in Saskatchewan we have an organ donor card, you talk with your loved ones and declare that you鈥檙e an organ donor by placing a sticker on your health card as well as signing the intent to be one with a witness acknowledging they will respect your decision if you should die.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 One of the main reasons a study from 2008, 鈥淚n their own words: The reasons why people will (not) sign an organ donor card,鈥� stated people refrain from becoming organ donors is that they actually have a mistrust of the institutions involved in organ donations. This includes a 鈥渇ear that doctors will declare death prematurely to procure organs, misgivings about equity in the organ allocation system, and a general fear of medical error made by doctors and hospitals.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 A concern which specifically stems from this includes what it means to be brain dead. Organ donations are most likely to be recovered from someone who has been declared brain dead or from people who have been in an accident or car crash. The organ needs oxygenated blood passing through it for as long as possible before the transfer happens. However, the thought of someone鈥檚 heart still beating produces thoughts from many that the individual is still alive despite being declared brain dead.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Another main concern for many people who decide not to become an organ donor is rooted in religious or spiritual reasons. People point to there being no scripture that supports organ donation, while others focus on scripture which prohibits the mutilation of one鈥檚 body as a reason for not becoming an organ donor.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 When thinking about making organ donation mandatory these fears and religious beliefs are valid. We live in a country which focuses on and promotes the right to make one鈥檚 own life decisions. People in Canada value autonomy when it comes to deciding their futures when faced with difficult situations.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Although it should remain a choice to each individual thinking of the question, 鈥淲hat if?鈥� and their family when faced with that 鈥淲hat if?鈥� situation, becoming an organ donor could save someone鈥檚 life. Since, patients on ventilators are the only ones who can really become organ donors the amount of potential donors is very little.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 In 2012 that number was one to two percent of people who die in a hospital as having the potential to donate, while there are dozens of Canadians who die in need of a transplant, waiting.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 As Canadians we respect the decisions of each other, whether to donate or not too, however, choosing to donate can give the gift of life to another. For more information visit http://www.canadianliving.com/health/prevention/organ_donation_what_you_need_to_know.php
