The results of the multi nation study adds power to my personal
beliefs that an opt out scheme provides the greatest hope for addressing
the dire organ demand and need in the UK. A Wales based campaign “Tell a
friend” headed by superstars and celebrities has helped to vastly increase
the number of registered donors, as well removing the stigma of discussing
organ donation and death. Unfortunately with Diabetes and other chronic
diseases on the increase, especially in areas such as the South Wales
valleys, coupled with increased life expectancy, demand is still
outstripping supply. I was therefore interested to read that the catholic
faith advocates organ donation as a “service of life” which made me ask
myself should the medical profession also view organ donation as a
“service of doctors”?
When we become doctors should organ donation become an obligatory
part of the “21st century Hippocratic oath”. Leading by example and “do as
I do not as I say” approaches may help encourage the public to actively
voice their wish to donate. With a vast discrepancy between the 90%+ who
would donate but the nearer 30% who hold a donor card any new incentive
must be worthy of trial. Such a step that all doctors will donate their
organs would send a powerful message to the British public. The same
principle may help the shortage for blood products.
During my time as Chairperson of the BMA Medical Students Committee I
led a successful threshers campaign to encourage new medical students to
sign up to the organ register. University visits by UK Transplant offered
students a donor card instead of the more traditional credit card and the
numbers of new donors was encouraging. Maybe now is the time for the same
to be done to “thresher doctors” and encourage a sign up at trust
inductions?
Rapid Response:
Duty of a doctor
The results of the multi nation study adds power to my personal
beliefs that an opt out scheme provides the greatest hope for addressing
the dire organ demand and need in the UK. A Wales based campaign “Tell a
friend” headed by superstars and celebrities has helped to vastly increase
the number of registered donors, as well removing the stigma of discussing
organ donation and death. Unfortunately with Diabetes and other chronic
diseases on the increase, especially in areas such as the South Wales
valleys, coupled with increased life expectancy, demand is still
outstripping supply. I was therefore interested to read that the catholic
faith advocates organ donation as a “service of life” which made me ask
myself should the medical profession also view organ donation as a
“service of doctors”?
When we become doctors should organ donation become an obligatory
part of the “21st century Hippocratic oath”. Leading by example and “do as
I do not as I say” approaches may help encourage the public to actively
voice their wish to donate. With a vast discrepancy between the 90%+ who
would donate but the nearer 30% who hold a donor card any new incentive
must be worthy of trial. Such a step that all doctors will donate their
organs would send a powerful message to the British public. The same
principle may help the shortage for blood products.
During my time as Chairperson of the BMA Medical Students Committee I
led a successful threshers campaign to encourage new medical students to
sign up to the organ register. University visits by UK Transplant offered
students a donor card instead of the more traditional credit card and the
numbers of new donors was encouraging. Maybe now is the time for the same
to be done to “thresher doctors” and encourage a sign up at trust
inductions?
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests