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Donate Life
ave you ever thought about organ Medical and nursing staff will talk with a
donation? Over 1700 Australians are patient’s family and enquire about their
Hcurrently on the transplant waiting donation wishes. In some cases, the
lists, and it is only through the generosity process of organ donation is simply a
and altruism of organ donors and their matter of carrying out a person’s known
families that transplants are possible. wishes when they have registered to be
a donor and discussed this decision with
their family. However, many people have
Often transplantation is the only treatment not registered or discussed donation with
option available for people whose organs loved ones, and this makes it much harder
are failing. Any one of us could one day for families to make a decision at a time of
find ourselves needing a life-saving or immense grief.
lifeenhancing transplant – imagine if this
was you, a family member or a friend.
Babies, children, teenagers and adults are Religion is often an influencing factor
on waiting lists across Australia, unable when making decisions, especially one of
to enjoy normal lives. Even something as this nature. The Catholic Enquiry Centre
simple as going for a walk, or going away states "organ donation is a noble and
for a weekend, can be impossible for those meritorious act and is to be encouraged
on transplant waiting lists. as an expression of generous solidarity".
When a patient dies in an Intensive Care Organ donation can bring comfort to
Unit, organ donation may be an option. families at a time of great sorrow. In
the words of a donor family, "Organ and
tissue donation will not take away the pain
of your loss, but in time it may help to
give some meaning, and provide some
sense of comfort knowing that the person
you loved has been able to make such a
difference to other peoples’ lives, and to
the lives of their families".
Transplants transform lives and can allow
sick babies to smile again, children to play,
young adults to work and spend time with
their families, and older adults to see their
children marry or spend time with their
grandchildren.
DonateLife NT encourages you to think
about your organ and tissue donation
wishes, register these on the Australian
Organ Donor Register at www.donatelife.
gov.au and discuss this with your family –
find out their wishes too.
For further information about organ
and tissue donation please review the
resources on the DonateLife website or
contact DonateLife NT on 08 8922 8349.
4 Catholic Community of the Northern Territory, Diocese of Darwin
