Published Wednesday, 31 December, 2008 at 01:48 PM
Minister for Health
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
Festive season - a time for a family discussion
Queensland Health Minister Stephen Robertson today urged Queenslanders to consider signing on to the Australian Organ Donor Register as a worthwhile New Year resolution.
“Australian’s by nature are generous people and signing on to the national register is one way to potentially give the gift of life,” Mr Robertson said.
“They also need to tell their family about their decision so their wishes can be honoured if the situation arises whereby they are able to donate organ and tissues.
"While it is a festive time, Christmas is also a time for family and friends to get together," he said.
Mr Robertson said he was encouraging Queenslanders to take five minutes to discuss with their families whether or not they wanted to be an organ and tissue donor.
Twenty-five year old Lutwyche resident, Brent Hughes is going to enjoy his Christmas immensely. Brent required an urgent liver transplant earlier this year.
“Suddenly with no warning I was so ill that needed a liver transplant. I was listed as an urgent and was transplanted in a week,” said Brent.
Brent and his wife Ella had been married less than a year before he became sick.
Without the generosity of the donor and donor family Brent said he wouldn’t be celebrating his first married Christmas with his wife.
“While I’ll be having a great time, my heart goes out to my donor family and all donor families who face this time of year missing a loved family member,” he said.
In Australia, a person has a 10 times greater chance of requiring an organ or tissue transplant than becoming a donor.
Mr Robertson said that organ donation is medically possible in less than one per cent of all deaths which is why we need people to discuss the issue within their family and to sign onto the register.
“More people can donate tissues as there are fewer medical restrictions and since 1965 more than 30,000 Australian men, women and children have received life saving or life enhancing transplants.
Organs for donation includes heart, lung, liver, kidneys and pancreas and tissues are eye tissue, heart valves, skin and bone tissue.
“Research shows that 90 per cent of Australian’s support organ and tissue donation in principle, so a good New Year’s resolution would be to turn this into action, discuss the issue with your family and sign on to the register,” Mr Robertson said.
Ends.
Contact: Minister’s Office 0458 449 267
Interview/Photo Opportunities: Queenslanders' Donate 0412585078
“Australian’s by nature are generous people and signing on to the national register is one way to potentially give the gift of life,” Mr Robertson said.
“They also need to tell their family about their decision so their wishes can be honoured if the situation arises whereby they are able to donate organ and tissues.
"While it is a festive time, Christmas is also a time for family and friends to get together," he said.
Mr Robertson said he was encouraging Queenslanders to take five minutes to discuss with their families whether or not they wanted to be an organ and tissue donor.
Twenty-five year old Lutwyche resident, Brent Hughes is going to enjoy his Christmas immensely. Brent required an urgent liver transplant earlier this year.
“Suddenly with no warning I was so ill that needed a liver transplant. I was listed as an urgent and was transplanted in a week,” said Brent.
Brent and his wife Ella had been married less than a year before he became sick.
Without the generosity of the donor and donor family Brent said he wouldn’t be celebrating his first married Christmas with his wife.
“While I’ll be having a great time, my heart goes out to my donor family and all donor families who face this time of year missing a loved family member,” he said.
In Australia, a person has a 10 times greater chance of requiring an organ or tissue transplant than becoming a donor.
Mr Robertson said that organ donation is medically possible in less than one per cent of all deaths which is why we need people to discuss the issue within their family and to sign onto the register.
“More people can donate tissues as there are fewer medical restrictions and since 1965 more than 30,000 Australian men, women and children have received life saving or life enhancing transplants.
Organs for donation includes heart, lung, liver, kidneys and pancreas and tissues are eye tissue, heart valves, skin and bone tissue.
“Research shows that 90 per cent of Australian’s support organ and tissue donation in principle, so a good New Year’s resolution would be to turn this into action, discuss the issue with your family and sign on to the register,” Mr Robertson said.
Ends.
Contact: Minister’s Office 0458 449 267
Interview/Photo Opportunities: Queenslanders' Donate 0412585078