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- CommentAuthorparisa
- CommentTimeAug 11th 2009
Tim Luckhurst speaks very passionately of the difficulties he experienced in fulfilling his father's wish to donate his brain for research after death, (A chance to do good, Guardian, 3 August). We disagree with him, however, that presumed consent for transplantation is currently off the agenda. The British Medical Association has campaigned for many years for presumed consent as we believe it is one of the best ways to increase donation rates.
The organ donation taskforce, while accepting that presumed consent for transplantation could deliver real benefits, rejected it for the time being, preferring to concentrate on practical changes to the organ donation system.
The BMA supports these changes but believes that there is no room for complacency. The taskforce hopes that the changes currently afoot will increase donation rates by 50% over five years – and while we all hope that they will achieve this, what if they do not? Every year that goes by without major improvements in the transplant programme means lives are being lost.
We need to be thinking about these issues now. We can't afford to wait another four or five years before beginning to have a serious debate about other options, including presumed consent.
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- CommentAuthorparisa
- CommentTimeAug 11th 2009
Brent Cheal made the ultimate gesture to save his daughter.
The Kelowna man donated one of his kidneys to his little girl, who was suffering from a rare kidney disease. Kaleena’s disease was destroying the organs.
“We went through testing and I was a match,” recalls Cheal, noting usually siblings are tested first, but Kaleena’s brother was too young.
After Cheal discovered he was compatible to his daughter he donated one of his kidneys. While her two non-functioning kidneys remain located in her body, her dad’s kidney is housed in the front right of torso.
The surgery was five years ago and today Kaleena is preparing to move to Edmonton for a post-secondary education–all because of her father’s life saving gesture.
Cheal was at Mission Creek Regional Park Sunday as part of the Kidney Foundation’s Give the Gift of Life Walk.
The event was a fundraising walk for the foundation and was also a time for those who haven’t already signed up, to register for organ donation.
Cheal says he hopes the event will educate those who are considering it but haven’t filled out their organ donor cards yet.
“Some people find themselves in hospitals on life support,” says Cheal, adding the decision is left to family members who may not be aware of final wishes.
Some statistics from the Kidney Foundation of Canada:
- An estimated 2 million Canadians have kidney disease, or are at risk.
- Over 30,000 Canadians suffer from kidney failure and require dialysis or a transplant to stay alive. Millions more have related conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure, which are the leading causes of kidney failure.
- Organ and tissue donation saves lives and restores health. However, the need for organs is far greater than the available supply. Almost 75% of the 4,000 Canadians on the waiting list are waiting for a kidney. That’s why The Kidney Foundation is working with representatives from healthcare, industry and government to improve organ donation rates.
- The Kidney Foundation of Canada encourages all Canadians to make a positive decision regarding organ donation, and to discuss their wishes with their family.
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