Sharp drop in heart donations

HEART transplants in Ireland have hit a 10 year low due to a sharp drop in donations, according to the National Centre for Cardiac Surgery.

Just five transplants have taken place so far this year compared to 18 in 2003 and 16 the previous year.

Twenty one people are currently on the heart transplant waiting list - one of the highest figures in recent years.

Director of the Mater Hospital Transplant Programme, Mr Freddie Wood said between five and six people die each year in Ireland awaiting transplants.

Chairman of the Irish Heart and Lung Transplant Association (IHLTA), Terry Mangan said donation levels were affected by the organ retention scandal.

“Every time there is negative publicity about organ donation such as the organ retention scandal, it affects our donation levels. People must mix them [organ donation and organ retention] up,” he said.

“We had hoped that holding the European Heart and Lung Transplant Games in Dublin would have had a positive effect on donation figures, but not yet”.

“We just want people to realise that they [organs] are of no value to the dead person. There is a saying ‘Why take your organs to heaven when god knows they’re needed on earth’.”

Mr Wood said he could not explain the drop in donations but admitted organ donation is a “difficult area for families”.

“Carrying a donor card only shows a personal intention to give your organs. Your next-of-kin must still give consent and it is very hard for a medical team to change from trying to save the life of a brain-injured person to telling the family that he is actually dead and asking could they donate his organs,” he said.