The New South Wales Government has announced reforms to the law surrounding organ donation.

 

The Human Tissue Legislation Amendment Bill makes a number of key changes to the Human Tissue Act 1983 and the Anatomy Act 1977, including:

 

  • Increasing community education and awareness campaigns to encourage people to have discussions with their families about organ donation;
  • Employing specialists in hospitals to help families deal with the difficult decision about consenting to donation;
  • Providing guidelines for doctors to help them uphold a patient’s desire to be a donor;
  • Promoting living donation programs

 

 

The amendment bill forms part of the State Government’s push to double the current rate of organ donation.

 

Chris Thomas, chief executive officer of Transplant Australia, said the NSW Government’s commitment to organ donor families and organ recipients will go a long way to improving rates in NSW.

 

"The Minister for Health has shone a light on this important issue and has demonstrated her commitment to ensuring organ donation rates increase in NSW," Mr Thomas said.

 

"There’s no doubt that changes needed to be made to the way organ donation was approached in NSW and it’s great to see the NSW Government driving these reforms."