Drop in Organ Donations in 2014

Organ donations dropped in 2014 by three percent, taking the number from 391 donors in 2013 to 378 organ donors in 2014.
The Organ and Tissue Authority  2014 Performance Report shows 1117 Australian lives were transformed through organ donations.
Research also indicates that more than 60 per cent of Australian families give consent for organ and tissue donation to proceed. However, families that have discussed and know the donation decision of their loved one allow organ donation to proceed on 80 per cent of occasions.
Assistant Minister for Health Fiona Nash said the number of deceased organ donors had increased by 53 per cent since 2009, when the DonateLife Network was established.
“I urge all Australians to discuss this important issue with their families and register their wish to donate,” Minister Nash said.  “Less than 1 per cent of people die under the specific circumstances in hospital where organ donation is possible. “One organ and tissue donor can transform the lives of ten or more people."
“The report also showed that in 2014, we saw a 31 per cent increase in deceased tissue donation from both tissue only donors and multi organ and tissue donors. “In the same period there was a 45 per cent increase in tissue grafts transplanted and a 50 per cent increase in the number of tissue transplant recipients,” Minister Nash said.
“In 2015 we will focus on continued change in clinical practice such as increasing the number of identified potential donors, improving the donation process for loved ones and enhancing IT systems to support organ and tissue donation and transplantation.”
For more information and the full Organ and Tissue Authority 2014 Performance Report visit the Organ and Tissue Authority website.