McGuinty Government Creates Citizens Panel To Help Increase Organ Donation
Eminent Citizens Panel To Undertake Province-Wide Consultations And Develop Recommendations
November 24, 2006
TORONTO /CNW/ - The McGuinty government has created a citizens panel to develop recommendations to increase organ donation in the province, Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman announced today. "Organ donation saves hundreds of lives each year across Ontario, yet there are not enough available donors to meet the demand for organ transplants," Smitherman said. "That's why we're creating the Citizens Panel on Increasing Organ Donations consisting of highly regarded individuals in the community who will provide our government with their collective wisdom and develop recommendations for a made-in-Ontario Organ Donation Strategy."
The six members of the Citizens Panel on Increasing Organ Donations are:
Dr. Ted Boadway, former director of health policy at the Ontario Medical Association
Alvin Curling, former MPP and Speaker of the Ontario Legislature
Peter Desbarats, print and television journalist, and previous dean at the University of Western Ontario
Reverend Dr. Brent Hawkes, human rights activist and pastor of Metropolitan Community Church Toronto
Gisèle Lalonde, community activist and former mayor of Vanier, who served on the board of directors of the Montfort Hospital and the Montfort Hospital Foundation
Joan Neiman, former Canadian Senator
Over the next few months, the panel will hold public forums across the province to consult with the public on:
Ways to increase awareness about the importance of organ donation for all Ontarians
How to remove barriers to organ donation
How the government can support and encourage more living organ donations
The best ways for people to make their donation preference known, registered and recorded
The panel will report to the government in the winter of 2007. "Every single resident of Ontario stands to benefit from this initiative. That's why it's important that we consult with Ontarians as we develop recommendations," said Dr. Ted Boadway, Chair of the Citizens Panel on Increasing Organ Donations. "Through these consultations, we hope to gain a comprehensive understanding of the challenges facing organ donation, and use that to get to the right solutions."
Over the years, the number of patients waiting for organ transplantation has consistently exceeded the number of organs available for transplantation.
"Organ and tissue donation can mean the difference between life and death for thousands of individuals," said Smitherman. "I'm grateful for the keen interest demonstrated from all my colleagues in the Legislature from all sides as we continue to work on this issue. I very much look forward to receiving the recommendations from the panel in a few months from now."
Other initiatives by the McGuinty government benefiting the health of Ontarians include:
$15.5 million in additional funding for 2006-07 over last year's $57 million investment to support organ and tissue donation and transplantation across Ontario
The implementation of the Routine Notification and Request strategy - a strategy requiring Ontario's major hospitals to report all deaths to the Trillium Gift of Life Network, allowing it to take the necessary steps to determine if a donation is possible
The introduction of a new policy to fund hospitals for costs associated with screening, assessment and surgery of living liver and kidney donors
Today's initiative is part of the McGuinty government's plan for innovation in public health care, building a system that delivers on three priorities - keeping Ontarians healthy, reducing wait times and providing better access to doctors and nurses.
This news release, along with other media materials, such as matte stories and audio clips, on other subjects, are available on our website at: http://www.health.gov.on.ca under the News Media section.
Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman today announced the formation of a Citizens Panel on Increasing Organ Donations. The panel members are:
Dr. Ted Boadway - Panel Chair. Dr. Ted Boadway is a medical doctor who spent the first 13 years of his professional career as a family physician and the next 23 years as executive director of the health policy department with the Ontario Medical Association (OMA). Throughout his career, Dr. Boadway has been actively involved in medical politics at the local, regional, provincial, and national levels. In 2003, Dr. Boadway received the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal in recognition of his published and legislative work in tobacco control. He continues his work in health policy and in health environmental policy through his consulting work with the OMA, the Ontario government and other clients. Dr. Boadway was a member of the steering committee and then a founding member of the board of Multiple Organ Retrieval Exchange Program (MORE) for the province of Ontario, the predecessor of The Trillium Gift of Life Network. He served as chairman of the board of MORE for three years.
Alvin Curling. Alvin F. Curling was appointed as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Canada to the Dominican Republic on August 19, 2005. Prior to this appointment, he was the Member of Provincial Parliament from 1985 to 2003, when he was also elected Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. The Honourable Alvin F. Curling has served on numerous advisory boards and committees including as Chair of the Advisory Board to the Caribana Cultural Committee, Member of the Board of Directors of the World Hunger Project, President of World Literacy of Canada, and Member of the Advisory Board to the Chinese Cultural Centre. The Government of Jamaica has honoured him with the Order of Distinction, in the rank of Commander, and most recently, the University of Technology in Jamaica awarded him an Honorary Doctorate Degree, Doctor of Letters.
Peter Desbarats. Peter Desbarats was dean of the graduate school of journalism at The University of Western Ontario from 1981 to 1997. He currently teaches in Western's journalism program conducting a graduate course in Media and Politics. He has worked as a print and television journalist for 30 years in Montreal, London (UK), Winnipeg, Toronto and Ottawa. His most recent media positions were as national affairs columnist for the Toronto Star and Ottawa bureau chief and co-anchor for Global TV. He is the author of 12 books, several plays and numerous academic and popular articles. Peter Desbarats is a member of the advisory board of the Canadian Journalism Foundation, a director of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association and an advisor to the U.S. Society of Environmental Journalists. In addition to lecturing to international audiences and being cited in the media as an authority on Canadian journalism, he has also served in 1995-96 as one of three Commissioners on a federal inquiry (Somalia). In 1991 he was a member of the Ontario Task Force on Cardiovascular Services.
Rev. Brent Hawkes. Rev. Brent Hawkes has been the Senior Pastor at the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto for more than 29 years and has been at the forefront of the ministry to the gay and lesbian community in Toronto. He has played a significant role in promoting the inclusion of sexual orientation in the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Canadian Human Rights Act. He has served as co-chair for the Campaign for Equal Families, member of the advisory committee of PrideVision TV, and on the Board of Directors of "EGALE" (Equality for Gays and Lesbians Everywhere). Hawkes has been honoured with the City of Toronto Award of Merit along with awards from the United Nations Toronto Association, and the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches.
Gisèle Lalonde. Gisèle Lalonde has many accomplishments throughout her twenty year career as an educator and most recently in the field of politics. In addition to sitting as board chair for the Ottawa Roman Catholic Separate School Board, she held several positions and appointments in the education arena, most specifically related to francophone matters. She also served on the boards of directors of the Royal Ottawa Hospital, Montfort Hospital and Montfort Hospital Foundation. Her political career took flight when she was elected mayor of Vanier, Ontario in 1985 and later sat on the advisory board to the Minister of Municipal Affairs on the professional development of elected officials and municipal managers. Lalonde has been honoured with numerous distinctions and awards including the Order of Canada in 2004 along with Honorary Doctorate Degree from Laurentian University and St-Paul University.
Senator Joan B. Neiman (retired). Joan Neiman was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and obtained her B.A. from Mount Allison University. She served in the Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service 1942-1946, retiring as lieutenant commander. She was called to the Bar of Upper Canada and practiced law in Ontario 30 years. Neiman served on the Boards of the Elizabeth Fry Society, National Council of Women, Canadian Corps of Commissionaires Ottawa and Admirals' War Medal. She was appointed to the Senate in 1972 where she sat on many standing and special committees and was chair of the Legal & Constitutional Affairs Committee for eight years. She chaired Human Rights Committee of the Interparliamentary Union, the parliamentary equivalent of the United Nations, for eight years. She is a member of an End of Life Project initiated by the Health Law Institute of Dalhousie University and of the Ethics Committee of Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital.
The issue of organ donation and transplantation is literally one of life and death for thousands of Ontarians. Every year in Ontario, more than 2,000 people have their lives enhanced or saved by organ transplants. Organ donation for transplantation is a critical component of our health care system.
Through the Trillium Gift of Life Network, the Government of Ontario promotes organ donation. The Network is dedicated to planning, promoting, coordinating and supporting organ and tissue donation in Ontario so that more lives can be saved through transplantation.
Funding
In 2006-07 the Ontario Government is investing an estimated $11.7 million to support organ donation activities of the Trillium Gift of Life Network and an additional $15.58 million to support transplantation across the province. Last year, 825 successful transplants were completed. The funding provided by the government covers the cost of the donation and transplant surgery. There is no cost to the donor family or recipient.
Ways people can donate organs
The primary motivation for deciding to become an organ donor is to help someone else. One donor's generosity can result in as many as 25 tissues and organs for transplantation. Thirty per cent of the people needing a transplant will die while they are on the waiting list.
In Ontario, people may indicate their decision to donate all or only specific organs. People's gift of organs is available equally to all potential recipients, based on need and other criteria. Make sure your family knows the details of your decision.
The available options for people wishing to donate organs are:
Living Organ Donation - Living donation occurs when a living person donates an organ or part of an organ for transplant to another person in need - usually a kidney or liver. Living donors are most often family members or close friends of the recipient
Donation after Cardiac Death (DCD) - DCD offers families the option of donation in cases where neurological criteria for death have not been met, and the decision to withdraw life-sustaining treatment has been made. A DCD patient has no hope of survival or meaningful functional status.
Donation after Neurological Determination of Death (NDD) - Deceased organ donation can take place when someone has been declared brain dead, a doctor has determined the organs can be used for transplant, and loved ones opt to artificially maintain vital organs by ventilator to keep them suitable for transplant
The easiest way to become an organ donor is to request and complete a Trillium Gift of Life Network donor card - Ontario's single official donor card. For further information, contact the Trillium Gift of Life Network at 1-800-263-2833 or visit their website at www.giftoflife.on.ca.
Allowable organs for donation and transplantation
Organs include the kidneys, heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, bowel and stomach.
Successes
Success rates for transplants vary depending on the organ, but in general 85-95% of transplants are successful one year after surgery.
In 2005, 825 lives were saved through successful organ transplantation in Ontario. The survival rate for patients who do receive transplants continues to improve with most transplant patients living extended, high quality, normal lives.
More information about organ donation
For more information about organ donation, contact the Trillium Gift of Life Network at 1-800-263-2833 or visit their website at www.giftoflife.on.ca. You can also find more information on the Ministry of Health Long-Term Care website at www.health.gov.on.ca.
For further information: Media Contacts: David Spencer, Minister's Office, (416) 327-4320; A.G. Klei, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, (416) 314-6197; Members of the general public: 1-866-532-3161
