With organ transplantation becoming increasingly in demand, it seems as though steadily the healthcare services of the world are steadily reaching that demand. According to the BBC, 4655 organ transplants were carried out between 2013 and 2014. In fact this is a 10% increase on the interval of the previous year which is interesting to note. But what is more important is that over many years, the numbers have only increased.
This is very encouraging with this rate of progress however many patients are still left over extended periods of time without an organ transplant available.
However how many of us are actually organ donors? The short answer is 20 million registered. The major problem today is the inability for families to give consent of their deceased loved ones to be organ donors after death. The families decision can therefore override the decision made by the loved ones to become organ donors. This could explain the fact that 3 people a day die because organs aren't simply available for transplant, according to NHS Blood and Transplant Data.
I must agree that the decision of the family must be taken into consideration, however it must be the duty of the donor to inform their family of their decision. Ensuring the whole family has made an informed decision is imperative so that their is less risk of organs becoming unavailable 'at the last minute'.
Nevertheless, living donors are equally as important, if not more so. 'Just over 1000' transplants were possible with living donors.
The bottom line question that is asked in this article is "If we would accept an organ for ourselves or would want someone we love to be saved by a transplant shouldn't we be willing to donate one too?".
In fact while we are on the subject, I would like to elaborate on the idea of organ transplantation and consent. In February, I received my quarterly copy of the Biological Sciences Review. I remember there being an interesting column on how consent for organ donation has changed over the past decade or so, with specific insight into the work of the Human Tissue Authority (HTA).
The HTA was set up in 2005, following events where sometimes hospitals 'retained human organs and tissues without consent'. Therefore the subsequent purpose of the HTA was 'to ensure that valid consent is in place for the removal, storage an use of human tissue and organs'. Living matter that was catered for by the HTA ranges from the very small to the large, cells to organ systems.
In 2012, the HTA decided to take on responsibility not just to ensure consent, but ensure that if organs were retained, they would be preserved for their quality. Also making sure the organs were safe for transplantation.
Another important duty of the HTA is to regulates the actions of 'all organisations that remove, store and use tissues and organs for research, medical truing, post-mortem examination, education and training, and display in public'.
In addition to handing organs and tissues from dead donors, the HTA also has responsibility for the viability of all organs and bone marrow tissue from living donors.
I really like the idea of having a HTA as it reassures the public of the safety and viability of organs when organ transplantation is needed. It acts like a 'watchdog' by inspecting organisations that store, remove and use human tissue. By licensing these organisations, hospitals, and the public will know of the quality of the organs that will be used for transplantation.
Another positive aspect I feel that will emerge from this is increased confidence in organ donation. The HTA 'hopes more people will donate their tissues for scientific and medical research…for transplants…fore medical education and training.'
What astonishes me the most is that according to this article, in the year 2011-2012, 'the HTA approved 1214 living organ donations…the vast majority (96%) were kidneys'. It seems that kidney transplantation, living kidney transplantation is very much in demand. Only the remainder were donated liver lobes.
But who receives the donation? In fact 9 out of 10 donations were for the family members. Converesly there were 39 "altruistic" donations, were the donor wishes there organ to be directed to the patient in the hospital with the most clinical need.
In truth, I have endless appreciation for the donors that give up part of their own body, to help others, sometimes others that they even don't know. No knowledge of family history, personality, causes of the health issue…nothing. It is the ultimate selfless act.
Credit to Alan Clamp, current Chief Executive of the HTA, who wrote for the Biological Sciences Review (Volume 26, Number 3)
Additional credit to Nick Triggle of the BBC whose article can be found here
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