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Organ donation in Ireland
Ireland is one of the few European countries who do not follow an “opt-out” system regarding organ donation. The current laws in Ireland regarding organ donation states that you need to opt in to organ donation, either by signing up for an organ donation card or by checking a box when applying for your driving licence. However, under this law, regardless of the individual’s status on the donor register, it is ultimately up to their family to make the decision whether or not the person is allowed to donate their organs after they die.

Organ donation
Organ donation is giving an organ to someone else who requires a transplant. It usually occurs when one person dies and they then donate their organs after their death. In this case, it usually requires consent from the deceased individual when they were alive and from their family after they have died.

However, some living people also donate organs for example a kidney or a section of your liver. This is usually to a relative or other loved one. But it is not always possible to give a loved one an organ, as people have different blood types etc. In these cases, it is sometimes possible to donate an organ to a stranger in need of an organ, who is also in the same situation where they have a loved one willing to donate an organ but is not a good match. If the strangers are a good match, then they will give one organ for the other. This can be done with many sets of people and is called a “domino transplant, as if one person pulls out, then the whole scenario is compromised the remaining surgeries will “fall” and nobody will get a transplant.

Donors in Ireland can be living or dead. Usually living donations consist of giving a kidney to a loved one.

After someone has died, a person’s organs can be donated after “brain stem death” or “cardiac death.”

Brain stem death is when there is no brain function, with no blood flow or oxygen to the brain. Cardiac death is when the person is injured beyond recovery and will not survive without the support of a ventilator. Two doctors need to verify death via a series of strict tests.

Current law in Ireland
Currently you need to “opt-in” to organ donation by applying for an organ donor card or by ticking a box when applying for your driving licence. To increase the chances of your wishes being followed, you should let your family members know your choices, but it is ultimately up to them.

Having a medical condition doesn’t always prevent you from being an organ donor – it is ultimately up to a doctor after you have died.

In Ireland, the heart, lungs, liver, pancreas and kidneys can be donated. Other organs can be donated in different countries eg. the skin in the UK.

New proposed legislation
There is a new bill being proposed, which arose 12 years ago from “the madden report” which includes an “opt-out” approach to organ donation. This approach assumes consent and allows your major organs to be donated without explicitly asking, once you have died, if you have not said otherwise. You can “opt-out” of this if you do not wish for your organs to be donated. However, the person’s family will still have the final say and if they request that the individual’s organs are not donated, then their wishes will be obeyed.

The minister for health, Simon Harris has said “that the proposed opt-out system would encourage people to discuss their intentions regarding organ donation with their next-of-kin.”

The “opt-out” approach is currently used in many other countries including Spain and Belgium.

In Spain, the system has proved very effective as the organ donation rates are around 35 per million people in 2012, compared to 17 in the UK, with the UK having a larger population by over 20 million.

A survey was carried out within the UK to gauge how many percentage of people would donate their organs, with 62% being the result. However, only 31% are actually on the register, thus an “opt-out” policy would definitely increase organ donation rates.

Organ donation statistics in Ireland
There has been a fall in the number of dead people who have donated their organs, from 99 in 2017 to 80 in 2018.

Ireland has a population of almost 5 million people, thus an “opt-out” system would greatly increase organ donation numbers from deceased people.

A survey revealed that greater than 80% of Irish people agree with organ donation.

Organ transplants in Ireland
Organ donations and transplants in Ireland are governed by the ODTI (Organ donation and transplant Ireland) and is dedicated to improving organ donation rates.

Organ transplants take place in 3 centres in the country:

1.    Beaumont hospital, Dublin – specialises in living kidney transplants

2.    The Mater hospital, Dublin – specialises in heart and lung transplants

3.    St.Vincent’s hospital, Dublin – specialises in liver and pancreas transplants.

Children must go to the UK for heart, lung and liver transplants.

There are also Specialist Organ Donation Personnel working in hospitals throughout Ireland, who provide training, education, support and advice.

Whole body donation
You can also donate your whole body to one of five medical schools in Ireland for research purposes. Each university has its own regulations:

-Trinity College Dublin

-University College Dublin

-The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin

-University College Cork

-National University of Ireland, Galway

Helpful organisations
The Irish kidney association, who help renal patients go through kidney transplants. The Irish heart and lung transplant association, the cystic fibrosis association, the Irish lung fibrosis association, alpha one foundation, liver transplant unit in St.Vincent’s foundation and heart children Ireland.