Frequently
Asked Questions
(Provided by The
Australian Organ Donor Register)
Questions:
- Why should I consider donating organs and
tissue?
- Why do I need to inform my family of my wishes?
- If I become an organ donor, will my organs and tissue be used for research purposes?
- Who can donate organs and tissue?
- When can organ and tissue donation occur?
- How are organs and tissue removed?
- What if I’m already registered as a donor elsewhere?
- Who can access the information held on the Donor Register?
- Which organs and tissue can be donated?
Why should I consider donating organs and tissue?
For people with serious or life-threatening illnesses, organ or tissue transplantation could mean a second chance at life. More than 30,000 Australians have received transplants in the last 60 years, and improved survival rates now mean that most organ or tissue recipients enjoy many years of high-quality life after their transplant.
By choosing to record your intentions on the Donor Register, you could help up to 10 other people.
Why do I need to inform my family of my wishes?
Even if your name is on the Australian Organ Donor Register, organ and tissue donation will not go ahead without your family’s consent. Most families will carry out a relative’s wish if they know what it is. If they don’t know, the decision is much harder, so family discussion about the topic is crucial.
If I become an organ donor, will my organs and tissue be used for research purposes?
No. Separate and specific permission is required for donated organs and tissue to be used for research purposes. Donated tissue and organs will not be used for medical research unless explicit written permission is granted.
Who can donate organs and tissue?
Anyone can choose to donate organs and tissue. While your age and medical history may need to be considered at the time of donation, you should never assume that you aren’t healthy enough or that you’re too old. People up to 90 years of age can donate some organs and tissue. Children under the age of 12 can register, although their registration must be authorised by a parent or guardian.
When can organ and tissue donation occur?
Less than 1 per cent of deaths occur in such a way that organ donation is possible. For organ donation to take place, a person must die in hospital, from a major brain injury, and must be attached to a ventilator (a machine which supports breathing) when they die.
The person must be declared “brain dead” according to strict criteria, which are outlined in legislation. Brain death occurs when the heart stops functioning without the help of a ventilator and there is no possibility of recovery.
For tissue donation, it is not necessary for death to have occurred in a hospital. Tissue donation can also take place after “circulatory death”, or when the heart has stopped beating.
In both cases donation can take place only with the consent of the next-of-kin.
How are organs and tissue removed?
Removal of organs and tissue is no different from any other surgical operation, and is performed by highly skilled surgeons in an operating theatre. The donor body is treated with respect and dignity at all times. The donation of organs and tissue does not alter the shape of the body.
What if I’m already registered as a donor elsewhere?
HIC has been working with the state Road Transport Authorities to ensure that the information held on those state registers is moved across to the Donor Register. If you have ticked the box on your driver’s licence, your intentions will have been recorded on the Donor Register. Carrying a Kidney Health Australia card does not mean that your wishes are recorded on the Donor Register.
Who can access the information held on the Donor Register?
Information recorded on the Donor Register can be accessed via a secure Internet site only by authorised medical personnel, who have signed confidentiality agreements. They are authorised by a management committee comprising representatives from HIC, the Department of Health and Ageing and state organ donation agencies.
Which organs and tissue can be donated?
Organs: heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas.
Tissue: corneas (eyes), heart valves, skin, bone.
To register as an organ donor online, please click here.
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Donations for the Non Heart Beating Donor Research and the Heart Start Units are Tax-Deductible and should be sent to: |
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Have
A Heart, Give A Part Rotary Club of Williamstown, P.O. Box 111, Williamstown 3016. |