December 1, 2008

Ontario is introducing affirmative registration for organ and tissue donation – a new way of providing consent that is expected to increase the number of organ and tissue donors in the province.

Under affirmative registration, only “yes” responses will be captured in the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s database. If you do not choose to donate or are undecided, your response will not be recorded in the database and you should advise family members of your decision.

By changing the way that organ and tissue donor decisions are recorded it is anticipated that:

• more people will register their consent to donate
• Ontarians will feel assured that their choice to donate will be honoured
• the number of organs and tissue available for transplant will increase

Even if an individual has signed a donor card, they should register their consent to ensure their donation decision is documented so that it can be made known and be respected.

“This initiative is an important step toward increasing organ and tissue donations and saving more lives,” said Health and Long-Term Care Minister David Caplan. “I’m urging all Ontarians to say ‘yes’ to donation when they renew their health card.”

“The new affirmative registration means we now have the opportunity to help many more Ontarians who are in need of an organ or tissue transplant,” said Dr. Gary Levy, head of transplantation at the University Health Network. “One organ and tissue donor can save up to eight lives and enhance as many as 75 more lives.”

“Consent decisions recorded in the ministry database will enable Trillium Gift of Life Network to better support families by sharing their loved one’s donation decisions,” said Frank Markel, President and CEO of Trillium Gift of Life Network. “It eases the burden and provides grieving families comfort by allowing for a clear statement of a loved one’s wishes.”

• More than 900,000 Ontarians each year have the opportunity to consent to organ and tissue donation when they renew their health cards.
• Currently, only 12.5 per cent of living Ontarians have given their consent to organ donation.

Download a Gift of Life Consent form .

Say ‘Yes’ to organ and tissue donation today - read more about how to donate .

For more information about organ and tissue donation please visit www.giftoflife.on.ca

For public inquiries call ServiceOntario, INFOline at 1-866-532-3161 (Toll-free in Ontario only)

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