Sir, – An opportunity to effect a liver transplant was recently missed. It is not my intention to seek to apportion blame for this one incident but rather to point a finger at a system of organ supply which depends on the generosity and nobleness of donors while ignoring the possibilities of vastly increasing the opportunity of getting a transplant.
The “opt-in” system in existence in Ireland by its voluntary nature does not supply sufficient organs to supply our nation’s annual needs. This means that many who desperately need a transplant to save their lives or to improve their quality of life are denied.
There are 650 people currently awaiting transplants in Ireland. In 2010 there were only 58 deceased donors and 23 live donors, contributing a total of 151 transplants, way short of the national need.That year showed the greatest decline in organ donations in Irish medical history, down 36 per cent.
There are 1,780 people receiving dialysis, a 6 per cent increase on the previous year.
There is a huge gap between need and supply. Every person who does not get a transplant is condemned to continuing and deteriorating health at best and death at worst. If we can only supply 23 per cent of the need then we are not looking after 77 per cent of that need.
This is unacceptable.
A move to an opt-out policy as opposed to an opt-in policy would rapidly close the gap, as it has done in many European countries.
An opt-out or presumed consent private members’ Bill was proposed in the Seanad during the life of the last government. What has happened to it?
The issue has been discussed in the Department of Health over the past few years. Why no action? There are no ethical or sensitivities issues that should take precedent over the saving of lives and the restoration of health.
Many of us know somebody whose life could have been improved or saved if a transplant had been available.
Some of us are fortunate to know someone who had a successful transplant and to know the joy and relief brought to the recipient and their family.
We should never again have to explain to a family why their hopes and dreams were so cruelly dashed. – Yours, etc,