Man’s organ plea is supported

Man’s organ plea is supported

7 March 2012

DOWN Council has weighed in with its support for a new campaign aimed at increasing the number of human organs available for donation after hearing an impassioned plea from a Crossgar man.

Mr. Norman Walker, whose wife sadly died despite receiving a liver transplant, addressed last week’s meeting of Down Council’s Health Committee.

He urged councillors to back a campaign to have every person considered a potential organ donor when they die, unless they register their objection.

The gap between the number of organs donated and the number of people waiting for a transplant is increasing, prompting increased focus on the introduction of a system of “presumed consent” for organ donation.

Mr. Walker explained only 23 per cent of the Province’s population are currently on the organ donation register and argued that irrespective of someone’s religion, colour, political affiliation or ethnic origin, they have a duty to their common man to help them in the best way possible.

Mr. Walker said the introduction of “presumed consent” would allow an opportunity to do this and provide people with an opportunity to do something for someone else.

Councillor Stephen Burns said the opt out system still provides an opportunity for people to decide if they want to donate organs or not and would take the decision out of a deceased relative’s hands at what is probably the most traumatic time in their lives.

Councillor Carmel O’Boyle said that under current legislation, her family could decide her organs could not be donated, even though she is on the donation register. She described the introduction of the opt out scheme as a “no brainer.”

Councillor Éamonn Mac Con Midhe praised those who do donate their organs to help others, explaining many families do this away from the glare of the media spotlight to help ill people most in need.

At the conclusion of last week’s meeting, councillors agreed to voice their support for the presumed consent initiative and make their views known to Health Minister Edwin Poots, members of the Stormont Health Committee and the Northern Ireland Local Government Association, the umbrella body which represents the Province’s 26 district councils.