News Release - New legislation to improve organ and tissue donation rates

We thought the following news release from the Government of Alberta would be of interest to our members and offer it for your information.  We welcome any feedback you may have.

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New legislation to improve organ and tissue donation rates

The Redford government is taking action to improve Alberta’s organ and tissue donation rates and lower transplant wait times across the country, in an effort to save and improve more lives.

The government will bring forward a motion tonight to adopt Private Member’s Bill, the Human Tissue and Organ Donation Amendment Act, 2013 — or Bill 207 — as a government bill.

“Our government is thrilled to adopt this good idea — I know this legislation will give us more tools to increase donation rates and save lives,” said Premier Alison Redford. “We need to encourage more Albertans to consider becoming an organ donor and I am absolutely convinced that Bill 207 will set the stage for achieving that legacy in our province.”

The Human Tissue and Organ Donation Amendment Act will establish one agency to co-ordinate organ and tissue donation activities in Alberta, including work to increase public awareness. This agency will report to the Minister of Health.  The legislation also proposes the creation of an organ and tissue consent-to-donate registry. Albertans who are willing to donate their organs and/or tissue will be able to provide online consent.

“We believe that by making it easier for people to register their intent to donate and by raising awareness of the need, we can dramatically increase organ and tissue donations in our province,” said Fred Horne, Minister of Health. “I thank Len Webber for his leadership in bringing this legislation forward as a Private Member’s Bill. Because it is of such vital importance, we want to adopt it as a government bill.”

“I am proud that this bill is moving forward with the government’s support,” said Len Webber, MLA for Calgary-Foothills and sponsor of the original Private Member’s Bill. “This legislation is going to a have a positive impact on organ and tissue donor rates, and ultimately many lives will be saved.”

Alberta lags behind other provinces in donation rates for organs and tissues. The province’s deceased organ donation rate was 16-17 donors per million population from 1995 to 2005; by 2011, the rate had dropped to 5-7 donors per million population. This compares to 16.3 donors per million population in Ontario and 11.8 donors per million population in British Columbia in 2011.

According to data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information for 2011, there were 324 Albertans actively waiting for a kidney transplant, 94 Albertans actively waiting for a liver transplant, 57 Albertans actively waiting for either a single or a double lung transplant, and 17 Albertans actively waiting for a heart transplant. Alberta has one of Canada’s highest incidences of diabetes, which is a leading cause of kidney failure requiring dialysis.

Our government was elected to keep building Alberta, to live within its means and to fight to open new markets for Alberta’s resources. We will continue to deliver the responsible change Albertans voted for.

Information on Private Member's Bill 207

We thought the following article from the Alberta Donates LIFE Coalition would be of interest to our members and offer it for your information.  We welcome any feedback you may have.

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On Thursday March 21, 2013, MLA Len Webber introduced Private Member's Bill 207 proposing the creation of an Agency to co-ordinate all Provincial organ and tissue donation issues.

Let the Government of Alberta know you would like the government to adopt its provisions and to implement Bill 207 as quickly as possible.

Citizen action NOW is critical.

THE PROBLEM:

Donation Rates Dropping and Demand is Rising:  “Alberta, while a world leader in transplant medicine, has one of the lowest rates of organ and tissue donation in the country” said Dr. Atul Humar, Director, Alberta Transplant Institute.  Over the past decade Alberta's rates of donation have declined from 17/million to 8.9/million.

Waiting in Vain:   In the past two years, 176 Albertans have died while waiting for a life saving organ transplant.

Bill 207 calling for a well-funded, accountable provincial organ donation agency is timely and represents a solution that has worked well in other provinces.

THE SOLUTION:

Build a Bridge:  We already know that transplantation provides a medical solution for many.  What we need is to build an institutional bridge between the Albertans who support organ donation with the people who need one.  This can be accomplished through the Government by:

1. Establish a Provincial Agency to coordinate, promote and educate on the issue of organ donation:  Alberta does not yet have a central provincial agency to manage organ donation.  Ontario, for example, created the Trillium Gift of Life Foundation and last year recorded a 12% increase in donation, due in large part to the efforts of the Foundation.


2. Establish an ongoing public awareness campaign:   Alberta's rates of donation have dropped from 17/million a decade ago to less than half of that, due in part to the lack of a sustained public awareness campaign.  The first time a family considers organ donation should not be in the middle of a traumatic death - it should be part of regular life planning that individuals discuss with their families and make their wishes known ahead of time.


3. Establish an electronic registry:   Once an individual makes the decision to be willing to be a donor, an electronic registry makes the collection and dissemination of that information much more efficient and available in a timely manner.   Additionally, when the time comes that families are asked for consent, they can be asked if they wish to honour their loved ones wishes, removing from them the emotional burden of decision making.   

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

• Use Your Voice!  One voice joined together with many makes the difference – ACT QUICKLY.   Email the Minister of Health Fred Horne and Premier Alison Redford to tell them you support Bill 207: (Suggested text – Every 5 days an Albertan dies waiting for a life saving “gift of Life” organ transplant.  I ask the Government to adopt the provisions of Bill 207 and fully implement the Bill as quickly as possible)
• Contact your local MLA and urge them to support the implementation of Bill 207
• Like the Facebook page: Support Alberta Organ Donation ; ask your friends to join you in action
• Contact your local media outlet/write Letter to Editor
• Forward this article on to friends and family and ask that they join you in action

Tipping Point

It's so close.  We know what the challenges are.  We know what the solutions are.  We have the attention of the Legislature.  We just need your support to make sure the Government acts quickly to fully implement Bill 207.