Know your family members’ organ and tissue donation wishes, OK?
All Australians are being encouraged to know the organ and tissue donation wishes of their loved ones in a compelling new television campaign announced today by the Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing, Catherine King.
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2 June 2011
All Australians are being encouraged to know the organ and tissue donation wishes of their loved ones in a compelling new television campaign announced today by the Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing, Catherine King.
“The DonateLife 'Know their wishes, OK?' campaign prompts Australians to make sure they know the organ and tissue donation wishes of family members, because one day they may be asked - 'did they want to be an organ and tissue donor?'," Ms King said.
“Most Australians agree that organ and tissue donation saves lives, but research commissioned by the Organ and Tissue Authority reveals that 1 in 3 Australians are unsure about how to start the conversation with their family. In fact about 40 per cent of Australians still don't know the donation wishes of their loved ones.
“Family knowledge of each other's organ and tissue donation wishes is essential if we are to increase Australia's family consent rate, which is currently less than 60 per cent.
"We need to normalise family discussion about organ and tissue donation because in Australia donation will not proceed without the consent of the family. It's that simple," Ms King said.
In 2010, the first full year of implementation of the Australian Government's national reform program to increase organ and tissue donation rates, 309 organ donors saved the lives of 931 Australians.
These are the highest donation and transplantation outcomes since national records began. Tissue donors significantly improved the lives of many more Australians.
The signs continue to be encouraging. As at the end of April 2011 there were 112 deceased solid organ donors and 327 recipients transplanted, the highest April year-to-date outcomes since national records began.
The 'OK' campaign launched in May 2010 clearly resonated with the Australian public, showing a sustained increase in memorable family discussion about donation wishes.
The DonateLife 'Know their wishes, OK?' television campaign airs nationally from Sunday 5 June and is supported by print, online and outdoor advertising. It is part of the ongoing DonateLife awareness campaign.
For more information, please contact the Parliamentary Secretary's Office on (02) 6277 4230
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