Organ Donation

Organ and tissue donation is a consideration which often arises at the end of life, both for people who are dying and their families. In some cases donation of organs and tissue may be relatively straightforward, and a person with capacity may specify their wishes in relation to donation. In other cases however, particularly where the person who is dying has impaired capacity, or where the potential donor has already died, the situation becomes more legally and ethically complex. Some people find that while it is generally easy to support the idea of organ and tissue donation, it becomes more difficult when confronted with a request to consent to the donation of a deceased family member’s organs.

Further information about donation is available at from the DonateLife Network, the lead Australian Government body for organ and tissue donation.