Flag-raising event at City Hall draws attention to the need to officially register as an organ donor online
The importance of organ donation was highlighted at a flag-raising event in Tom Davis Square on Tuesday. Irish Heritage Club of Sudburyhas played a role in educating and raising awareness about organ donation.
The event, held in the atrium of City Hall, was attended by several organ transplant recipients and donors who had a life-changing experience.
Laurie Lamour spoke about the importance of people officially registering their wishes to ensure their organs and tissues are donated when they die.
Mr. Lamour is Trillium Gift of Life Network (TGLN) and Donor Coordinator Health Science North.
Her job involves working with donor families to determine if suitable organs and tissues can be donated, and working closely with the Trillium Gift of Life Network to ensure compatibility testing and ensuring that all He said it's about making sure the correct registration information is in place. .
Lamour said one of the misconceptions about the organ donation process is that all you need is a signed donor card to become a donor.
“And the fact is, that's not true,” Lamour told the rally. “You need to move on BeADonor.ca And please register your wish. ”
Lamour said the process was simple.Those who want to officially become a donor can be onlineenter your personal health card information, enter your date of birth and fill in the blanks.
Lamour said when talking to families, it means she and the family can be confident that the donor's wishes are being met.
Lamour said surveys show more than 80 per cent of Ontario's population supports organ donation, but the actual number of registrations represents about 35 per cent of the population.
“Sudbury is above average. We're at 57 per cent in 14 out of 170 communities. So that's a good rate. As of April 29, there were 1,269 people on the (Ontario) waiting list. “There is,” she said.
Lamour said when people go online to officially register as organ donors, it makes the donation process easier, especially for families.
“When I talk to families in the ICU (intensive care unit), it's easier to make the decision knowing that your loved one has registered their wishes.”
Nickel Belt MP France Gelinas supports Lamour's position and is working in Congress to enact legislation that would include “presumed consent” in organ donation, with the aim of passing it as a private member's bill. said. Her latest effort was submitted in 2023. Essentially, it would require Ontario residents to “opt out” of organ donation, rather than having to opt in by registering.
Gelinas said he has learned that some groups oppose the idea, but the bill includes several measures to ensure that no individual or family is forced to donate organs or tissue. He said safety measures would be put in place.
“Other provinces are doing it. Nova Scotia is the first province to introduce a similar bill. It's changed organ donation in our province for the better,” Gelinas said.
She said Ontario has specialized transplant centers that are ready and willing to do the work, and all that is needed is more registration. She cited Toronto's University Health Network and the London Health Sciences Center as examples.
“They have the ability to do more transplants. I know our hospitals are very busy in some departments, but that's not the case in the transplant department. We have the knowledge , we have the technology, we have the staff.'' What we don't have is organ donations for transplants. ”
Sudbury Mayor Paul Lefebvre read the official proclamation recognizing Organ Donation Month in Sudbury. The group also participated in a flag-raising ceremony at Tom Davis Square.
Len Gillis is a reporter for Sudbury.com.
