Australian Organ Donor Week (18-25 February) is an annual campaign to raise awareness of organ donation and to encourage people to register with the Australian Organ Donor Register.

Organ donors can save lives. Organ and tissue transplantation can help the many Australians who are suffering life threatening illnesses, including heart, kidney and liver diseases, diabetes and cystic fibrosis. There were 218 organ donors in Australia in 2004, while there are nearly 2000 Australians waiting for an organ transplant at any time. Sadly, many of these people may die while waiting for a transplant.

Last month, Australian health ministers changed the Australian Organ Donor Register to a register of consent, rather than intent. This means that when a person has registered their consent through the Australian Organ Donor Register, clinicians will no longer need to seek the consent of the person's family.

Australian Organ Donor Register - www.hic.gov.au/organ



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