Right: a patient lies surrounded by machinery which can keep his body functioning long after he is declared brain-dead. Now, many doctors are calling for more certainty in brain-death diagnosis.
web links and documents
On February 17, 2008, The Sydney Morning Herald published an article titled, 'Organ donation overhaul'. The article outlines the federal government's plans to increase organ donation in Australia. The full text of the article can be read at http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/organ-donation-overhaul/2008/02/16/1202760662348.htmlOn July 3, 2008, The Sydney Morning Herald published an article titled, 'PM donates $136m to lift organ transplants'. The article gives details of the federal government's plans to increase organ donation. It can be found at http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/pm-donates-136m-to-lift-organ-transplants/2008/07/02/1214950851337.html
A summary of the 'Organ Donation after Cardiac Death: NSW Guidelines', a more rigorous set of guidelines than applies nationally, can be found at http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/gl/2007/GL2007_012.html
A full copy of the 'Organ Donation after Cardiac Death: NSW Guidelines' can be found at http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/gl/2007/pdf/GL2007_012.pdf
In September 2008, the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society (ANZICS) released the third edition of The ANZICS Statement on Death and Organ Donation. This is the most authoritative statement of the procedures to be followed in determining donor death and performing organ transplants.
The full text of the statement can be found at http://www.anzics.com.au/uploads/ANZICSstatementfinal26sept08.pdf
On October 20, 2008, The Canberra Times published an article titled, 'Donors not truly "dead" when organs removed'. This article outlines Professor Tibballs' concerns regarding the manner in which organs are harvested in Australia. The full text of the article can be found at http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/national/national/general/donors-not-truly-dead-when-organs-removed/1338047.aspx
In October, 2008, the National Health and Medical Research Council issued a media release seeking to reassure potential organ donors that claims that organs were taken from people who were still technically alive.
The full text of this media release can be found at http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/health_ethics/health/organ.htm