Consent registry facilitates organ and tissue donation

Québec-Transplant and Héma-Québec applaud the government's commitment to assign the management of a consent registry for organ and tissue collection to the Régie de l'assurance-maladie du Québec (RAMQ), as stipulated in Bill 125, An Act to facilitate organ and tissue donation. They also acknowledge measures intended to facilitate organ donation, particularly the proposed modifications to the Act respecting Labour Standards concerning live donors, disclosed today by Mr. Yves Bolduc, Minister of Health and Social Services.

The creation of this registry to facilitate the donation of organs and tissues is very encouraging news for people waiting for transplants. "Québec-Transplant is thrilled about this announcement, which is intended to ensure that the largest number of people waiting for organs will receive transplants as soon as possible. These measures will also promote the donation of organs between living people, both through Québec's participation in the Canadian registry of living donors combined with an exchange of beneficiaries and through the preservation of an employment relationship and the reimbursement program for living donors," said Mr. Louis Bolduc, General Manager of Québec-Transplant.

"The creation of this registry is good news and a step in the right direction. Certain measures in the bill will facilitate transplants, particularly the stipulation that hospitals will notify the organizations responsible for collecting organs before the imminent death or upon the recent death of a potential organ or tissue donor," said Dr. Francine Décary, President and Chief Executive Officer of Héma-Québec.

The executives of both organizations understand that the measures for coordinating organ or tissue donations between the RAMQ and Québec-Transplant and Héma-Québec still have to be developed, and they will work together actively in this respect.

As of November 8, 2010, 1,245 people were waiting for an organ transplant. Of that number, 75% are waiting for a kidney. Although only 1% of the deaths that occur in hospitals are eligible for consideration of the donation option, Québec-Transplant and Héma-Québec would like to remind people that every consent counts. The two organizations pointed out that it is important for people to indicate their consent for organ and tissue donations, and to inform their loved ones about their decision.