Low Donors Means Diseased Organs Used

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Low Donors Means Diseased Organs Used

10:55 AM, 04 Jun 2006

A group promoting organ donation says the number being donated in New Zealand is so low that doctors are having to use diseased organs. Last year 29 people's organs were donated, and 18 had diseases including hepatitis, diabetes and cancer. The organ donor lobby group, Give Life New Zealand, says rules which require family permission to be given before organs can be taken, need to change. The group's spokesman, Andy Tookey, says it is not surprising just under half of all families decline a request to remove the dead person's organs.Mr Tookey is asking people to support a member's bill before parliament which would make an organ donor's wishes legally binding.http://www.newswire.co.nz/main/viewstory.aspx?storyid=320157 & catid=16