Thursday, September 13, 2007

Transplant Headlines

Here are a few selected headlines from around the world.

New Limits Debated For Organ Donation


The Wall Street Journal Online discusses the proposed UNOS limits for organ donation, as outlined in this graphic by UNOS.

The article is very insightful and looks at both sides of the debate, from the opposition to the changes by surgeons and the reason for them from UNOS. Read the article.













On September 23, let's WALK to support organ donation !
This news release from Quebec, Canada is representative of how people world-wide are united in the effort to promote organ donation awareness.

MONTREAL, Sept. 12 /CNW Telbec/ - With the support and participation of Desjardins Group, The Kidney Foundation of Canada will hold a 5 km non-competitive walk on Sunday, September 23 in Dollard-des-Ormeaux to support people living with kidney disease and to promote awareness of the need of organ donation.

"We are proud to be associated with this health initiative. Our support to this event will help The Kidney Foundation of Canada raise funds in order to reduce the burden of kidney disease for patients, their family and each member of the society", declared Mr. Alban D'Amours, President and Chief Executive Officer of Desjardins Group.

Come celebrate life by participating in this lasting community advocacy and long-term support for the Foundation's mission. By doing so, you will walk for nearly two million Canadians who suffer from chronic kidney disease, or are at risk, and for more than 7,000 people in Quebec, who survive thanks to dialysis or transplantation.

Register on line today at www.kidneyquebec.ca/walk. For information, please contact Philippe Vincent at (514) 938-4515, #228.

Daughter pleads for liver
Today's Toronto Sun has a story about a daughter's desperate plea to save her mother's life by asking for help in finding a living liver donor. Her mother is dying in the hospital and no family members are a match. Read the article and learn how to become a living donor and where to register as such.

Organ donation: The inconvenient truth
This extensive discussion in the Catholic Insight gives an in-depth look on organ donation by the author who suggests that it is not possible to absolutely determine that a donor has died either from brain death or cardiac death and closes his opinion with the statement "The declaration of brain death or cardiac death is not sufficient to arrive at moral certitude. The recovery of organs based on that declaration is, therefore, immoral."

By Dr. John B. Shea, MD, FRCP(C)
Issue: September 2007


Ever since organ donation after a declaration of “cardiac death” was first practised in the Ottawa Hospital in June 2006, Canadians have been subjected to an incessant drumbeat of rhetorical manipulation in the media in favour of organ donation. The following commentary is offered in order to inform the public about the truth in regard to both the moral principles and scientific facts pertaining to both the donation and harvesting of human organs for transplantation purposes. Many physicians have serious and well-considered concerns about the morality of human organ transplantation and about the fact that the general public has not been properly informed about what really happens when organs are retrieved. Read the full opinion.


“You Have the Power to Save Lives – Sign Your Donor Card & Tell Your Loved Ones of Your Decision”

Download Donor Cards from Trillium Gift of Life Network

Download Donor Cards from OrganDonor.Gov

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