Organ Donation

In a classic episode of the Simpson’s, Grandpas kidneys explode and Homer reluctantly donates one of his. This prompts Lisa to congratulate her dad: “I know you're a little peeved at Grandpa, dad, but you've done a wonderful thing!” and Marge to note: “Yes! You've shortened your life significantly so someone else can have a slight extension of theirs!

While this episode is undoubtedly hilarious, it also prompted me to think about the rather pathetic organ donation rates around the world and the reasons why that is the case. Marge’s astute observation about live organ donation is one thing, but what about the huge lists of people awaiting an organ, such as a heart from a deceased donor? In 2005, there were only 7,593 deceased organ donors in the entire United States (recently 300 million people); while in Australia there were only 204. Considering the large number of patients dying on organ waiting lists worldwide, it seems criminal that such a low number of people are consenting to help.

If you’re wealthy and desperate enough (or perhaps arrogant is more accurate in some cases) rumor has it that a flight to China and a tour of the local prison will solve your personal organ shortage. After picking out a suitable match, the execution of the prisoner is expedited and voila – prison revenue is up, and you got yourself a new heart/liver/kidney etc. It is also said that members of Falun Gong (a persecuted religious group in china) have the most valuable organs, due to their healthy lifestyles – and these are harvested for a premium from concentration camps where they are held.

Now, this may or may not be true – but in any case, the fact is that few Australians can afford this radical solution (financially, or ethically). As far as setting policy goes then, the solution lies (as is usually the case) in looking to the world leader in this area. As it happens, Spain has the greatest number of donors per million of population (35), while Australia is a poor 16th (10). Disappointingly, even Spain falls well short of keeping up with demand.


Legislatively, the difference between the two systems hardly seems significant: the Spanish system requires donors to actively refuse the use of their organs (when no preference is indicated, organs are used), while here in Australia donors have to actively opt-in. There is also the complication of asking grieving loved ones to adjudicate on the decision of whether or not to donate as well as myths surrounding the procedure, such as ““If I'm in an accident and the hospital knows I want to be a donor, the doctors won't try to save my life!” and “Rich and famous people get moved to the top of the waiting list, while ‘regular' people have to wait a long time for a transplant.”

Slight improvements have been made here in Australia, following the formation of the Australian Organ Donor Register (over 800,000 have registered) and the inception of the David Hookes foundation (and the participation of Cricket Australia). However, the waiting list for a transplant regularly remains over 2,000. This Administration proposes the changing of organ donation legislation (in-line with the Spanish), to require donors to explicitly dissent to a donation during their lifetime – as well as an increased effort by the government to dispel the myths that prevent people from participating. Organ donation is one of those issues that few people think or care deeply about; that is until you need it.