Organ Donors needed

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 4, 23 June 1987, Page 2

Organ Donors needed

You can't use your organs after death, but other people may be able to. This is the message from the National Kidney Foundation of New Zealand in association with the Ministry of Transport and other organisations, when they recently established the National Organ Donor Register. Most people have heard about the success of kidney and heart transplants performed in Harefield Hospital, England, which will soon be performed in New Zealand. An imformation pamphlet released by the Kidney Foundation states that the greatest need is for kidneys, as hundreds of New Zealanders develop kidney failure each year. "To stay alive, these people depend on an artificial blood purifying process called dialysis, using either a machine, or a portable dialysis treatment. A successful kidney transplant is their only hope of being able to live a normal life." contd p 8

Organ Donors contd from p 2 Once a person has registered their wish to become an organ donor which means merely walking into your nearest Borough Council or Ministry of Transport office, their name is entered into the Health Department computer. From that point on, when they are admitted to hospital, their donor status is immediately evident to hospital staff. A sticker is also issued to donors to put on the inside cover of their driver's licence. If donors decide at some point that they no longer want to be on the register, they have the right to reverse their decision, simply by signing an "Out" form which is available from the same location.