Transplant Australia today welcomes an announcement by the Federal Government that the Australian Law Reform Commission will establish an inquiry into human tissue laws across Australia.
Transplant Australia, the national charity for donation and transplantation, agrees with the Organ & Tissue Authority and other leading stakeholders that the law underpinning organ and tissue donation in Australia has not kept pace with social, technological and scientific changes.
Transplant Australia CEO, Chris Thomas, congratulated the Attorney General, The Hon. Mark Deyfus KC and the Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon. Ged Kearney MP, for prioritising this review.
“There are three inputs that make organ and tissue donation and transplantation possible. By far the most important is the community’s willingness to embrace donation. That’s why we need more people to say ‘yes’, register their decision and inform their families. This must continue to be a strong focus across Australia,” Mr Thomas said.
“The next essential is a professional, sophisticated and well-funded hospital system that maximises donation and gives those waiting for a transplant the optimum opportunity to receive that gift. In Australia, we are fortunate to have a system that ranks alongside the best in the world.”
“And the third essential is robust laws which take into account the ethics of donation, the needs of those waiting and the expectations of loved one’s who will make the final decision concerning donation. It is these laws that the Law Reform Commission seeks to modernise through this inquiry.”
Transplant Australia also believes it is important to harmonise the laws across Australia to ensure consistency and that all Australians, no matter their location, have an equal chance of receiving the gift of life.
The inquiry will give the community the opportunity to underline the importance of a range of factors around consent. We look forward to representing the views of our community to the inquiry and for new harmonised laws which will help ensure access to transplantation for more Australians.
The Government release is here: Modernising our human tissues laws | Health Portfolio Ministers | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
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