MEMBER for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall is urging community members to let their loved ones know their wishes when it comes to organ donation.
Mr Marshall said DonateLife week (Sunday 2 August – Sunday 9 August) provided a timely opportunity to discuss organ donation with family and friends, ensuring they were aware of your final decision.
“DonateLife week aims to raise awareness of organ and tissue donation, which can ultimately save someone’s life,” Mr Marshall said.
“One way to ensure your wishes are known is to register to become a donor. This is a selfless act that could provide someone with a second chance at life, and help us achieve our target of 116 organ donors in 2015.”
Mr Marshall said organ donation was a very rare event, with only one per cent of deaths occurring in circumstances that allow organ donation to take place.
“Discussing organ and tissue donation is difficult but it prepares our loved ones for the rare circumstance in which they will be asked to make this choice,” Mr Marshall said.
“One conversation with loved ones today could save many lives in the future.”
In NSW in 2014, 92 organ donors made 263 life-saving organ transplants possible. In 2015 (to June 30), there have been 64 organ donors, enabling over 170 transplants.
As at June 30, there were 2,380,294 NSW people registered on the Australian Organ Donation Register.
To register, go to www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/medicare/australian-organ-donor-register
For more information on organ and tissue donation, go to www.donatelife.gov.au