Jun 23, 2004

Health officials say public opinion appears polarised over whether to maintain the current organ donor system or change it to one where the wishes of the deceased are followed regardless of family views.

Officials are analysing the results of consultation meetings and 130 submissions which they say will largely determine how they address concerns about New Zealand's low rate of organ donation.

Their analysis is expected to be released in about six weeks.

The officials told parliament's health select committee they have looked at donor registers in many overseas countries and found no evidence these improve organ donor rates.

They say Australian figures suggest that maintaining a register in New Zealand would cost at least $600,000 a year - the equivalent of about 50 hip replacement operations.

A senior Ministry of Health official told the select committee that if people talked to their families about their wishes it would make a big difference to donor rates.

Dr Colin Feek says there is no evidence that having donor registers improves organ donation rates overseas.