Hundreds of patients ‘dying unnecessarily’ on organ transplant list
Written by News on 04/09/2017
Hundreds of patients in desperate need of an organ transplant are missing out because people are unsure of their relatives’ wishes.
New figures reveal that 460 potential transplants failed to proceed last year because families wouldn’t give the go-ahead, saying they did not know whether their loved ones would have agreed to donate their organs.
Transplant specialists are now urging people to discuss the issue with family members.
Reluctance to talk about the issue is contributing to a deadly shortage of organs, according to NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT).
Anthony Clarkson, assistant director of organ donation for NHSBT, said: "It’s a tragedy, hundreds of people are dying unnecessarily every year waiting for transplants.
"We know that if everyone who supported donation talked about it and agreed to donate, most of those lives would be saved.
"A few words now can make an extraordinary difference. It will also make things much easier for your family to make the right decision."
Gareth Powell, a cystic fibrosis sufferer from Merseyside, had a double lung transplant when he was 21.
Three years before the operation, his sister Gemma died aged 22 while waiting for a similar transplant. She also had cystic fibrosis.
Now 31, Mr Powell said: "I wanted to make sure I did not take my transplant for granted and I didn’t waste it.
"I do as much as I can with my own life almost in the memory (of the anonymous donor). Their sacrifice for me was absolutely worth it."
After the transplant, Gareth went on to find work, get married and have a son who is now almost three years old.
On 25 August, there were 6,414 people in need of a new organ on the transplant waiting list – and Monday marks the start of Organ Donation Week.
Euan Sutherland, a specialist nurse for NHSBT, said: "Our key message is many people have never discussed organ donation.
"About 177 families each year – three per week – say no as they have never had the conversation and they think the safest thing to do is to say no in terms of organ donation.
"I’d like more people to have that conversation with family and friends so their wishes are known should they be one of the people asked about organ donation.
"Organ donation saves lives. Make it easy on family and friends by talking about what you want."
(c) Sky News 2017: Hundreds of patients ‘dying unnecessarily’ on organ transplant list
