Report on model for donor register expected by may

The register will be administered by the ministry and the details are to be worked out in conjunction with district health boards and Land Transport NZ.

The proposed register is part of three Ministry of Health policy advice papers on the human tissue legislation review released yesterday.

The review of the Human Tissue Act between 2003 and 2005 looked at a number of issues including the collection, use, retention, storage and disposal of human tissue and the safety of tissue for therapeutic and non-therapeutic use.

It also looked at organ and tissue donation.

The second of the papers released yesterday set out options for a consent framework for organ/tissue donation from deceased people, including proposals for who could give consent, what required consent, and how that consent should be recorded.

The ministry's chief clinical adviser, Dr Sandy Dawson, said there had been considerable public interest and discussion about some aspects of the Human Tissue Review, particularly organ donation.

Only 100 of the people who die in New Zealand each year are potential donors – those with organs suitable for donation - and around 40 of those become deceased organ donors.

The number is small because, in order to be a donor, a person must have been declared brain dead in an intensive care unit and their organs maintained with a ventilator.

The Government's review paper said there was limited potential for a register to increase donation rates.

New Zealand's consent rate for donation - between 40 and 60 per cent of those asked to donate - is comparable with most countries.

Dr Dawson said the register would ensure there was an effective and informed consent process, so that people who indicated they would be organ donors could have their wishes respected.

"These policy papers relate to a new legislative framework. It is equally important for families to talk to one another about their thoughts and wishes around consenting to organ donation," he said. The ministry supported other initiatives to maximise organ donation rates, including supporting the work of the national organisation Organ Donation New Zealand, he said.

Work to draft the proposed new human tissue legislation is underway, and will go through parliamentary and public consultation stages before the Bill is introduced to the House and referred to select committee later in the year.

courtesy of STUFF - www.stuff.co.nz