Australian Organ Donor Awareness Week 2009
Western Australians are being urged to discuss their wishes about organ and tissue donation with their family and friends, to coincide with Australian Organ Donor Awareness Week.
The annual awareness week is being run nationally from February 21 to 28.
DonateWest Medical Director Dr Kevin Yuen said the event was the perfect opportunity for Western Australians to discuss organ and tissue donation with family and loved-ones and then sign on to the register if they believed in the benefits of donation.
“The way to ensure that your wishes are honoured is to sign on to the Australian Organ Donor Register and let your family know,” he said.
“There are already 670,000 Western Australians (41 per cent of the population aged over 16 years) registered.
“Although this result is good, we encourage more people to consider signing on and to make family and friends aware of their decision.”
In 2008, more than 95 people across
Organs that can be donated for transplantation are heart, lungs, liver, kidneys and pancreas and tissues include corneas, bones and heart valves.
Factors such as age, residence overseas or health conditions are not necessarily barriers to organ and tissue donation as each case is assessed individually
Dr Yuen said organ and tissue registration forms were available from the Australian Organ Donor Register on (free call) 1800 777 203 and at Medicare offices or online at www.medicareaustralia.gov.au
The free call number can also be used by anyone who wants to clarify their registration status.
For more information on organ and tissue donation contact DonateWest – the WA Agency for Organ and Tissue Donation on 9222 0222 or visit www.donatewest.health.wa.gov.au
ENDS
Media opportunity:
Interviews with families that have been involved in donation as well as transplant recipients can be arranged. DonateWest Medical Director Dr Kevin Yuen will also be available for interviews and can provide further information and statistics.
Media contact: (08) 9222 4333
