August 3, 2007

The McGuinty government’s new organ donation strategy will increase organ donations by encouraging more living donations, educating and informing the public about organ donation, and ensuring that the wishes of people who want to donate are respected. Currently in Ontario there are 1,743 people on waiting lists for much-needed, life-saving transplants. The following outlines steps under the new strategy which will help to address this great need.

Encouraging More Living Donations through Increased Supports

• Establish a fund to cover pre-approved living donation related expenses such as travel, accommodation, and meals. The fund will be managed by the Trillium Gift of Life Network (TGLN) in consultation with transplant hospitals.
• Allow living donors to be connected with compatible recipients through the creation of a living organ donor database. The database will be administered by TGLN in collaboration with transplant hospitals.
• Consult employer and labour groups on providing job security for living donors with legislative protection.

Enhanced Public Education Initiatives

• Improve public awareness through education campaigns, including a youth-oriented program. Engage the faith community in exploring their involvement in a ‘Donor Awareness Week’ during which religious leaders would speak about organ donation at their religious services.

Improving the Collection of Organ Donation-related Data

• Make available to hospitals information that identifies people who expressed their wishes to donate their organs after death. This will help ensure that individuals’ organ donation wishes are known and respected.
• Include educational material about organ donation and the central database in health card renewal mail-outs.

Citizens Panel on Increasing Organ Donations

The Citizens Panel was established by the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care in 2006. The panel held public meetings and discussion groups in communities across Ontario from November, 2006 to February, 2007. Over 2,000 responses were received, which contributed to the development of the panel’s report released in April, 2007.

For further information :

Members of the general public :
416-327-4327, or 1-866-532-3161

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