Increase in organ donation to 1% of deaths could eliminate transplant waiting lists, top doctor says

Dr Brian O'Brien, Organ Donation Transplant Ireland national director: 'About 30,000 people die every year in Ireland, and less than 100 people are organ donors.' Picture: Conor McCabe Photography. 

An increase in organ donors from 0.5% of all deaths to 1% could eliminate transplant waiting lists if more people knew about this option, a top doctor has estimated.

Starting on June 17, Ireland will have an opt-out system of consent for organ donation.

Anyone who does not want to be a donor can register this with the HSE. Their relatives will not be asked about donation when they die. Families of people who are not on the register can be asked if they would consider donation.

Organ Donation Transplant Ireland national director Dr Brian O’Brien called on people to discuss donation with their families and find out about how they can help others.

“About 30,000 people die every year in Ireland, and less than 100 people are organ donors,” he said.

If we could increase organ donation from being about 0.5% to 1% we would probably be close to eliminating organ donation waiting lists.

The latest lists show more than 600 people waiting for organs, including hearts, lungs and livers. More than 500 of them are waiting for a kidney.

“There’s about 600 people awaiting transplant at any one time, and 1% of the 30,000 [annual] deaths would be 300,” Dr O'Brien told the Irish Examiner.

“Your average donor gives two to three organs — two kidneys, sometimes their heart or sometimes lungs.” 

Dr O’Brien, consultant in anaesthesia and intensive care medicine at Cork University Hospital, said people were more likely to need a transplant than to be a donor.

The Human Tissue Act 2024 commences in just over four weeks.

He predicted: “The change in legislation isn’t likely to change the numbers terribly much but what we do need is for people to discuss their wishes with their families.” 

Dr O'Brien hopes very few will opt out, adding: “Clearly, some people have strong views on this and we must respect their views.” 

Many people are not suitable to become donors as their organs may be damaged by cancer or other diseases.

“Most surveys would indicate that in Ireland, over 90% of people — depending on the age group — are willing to donate their organs should they die,” he said. “We need to find ways to increase the numbers of people who actually do.” 

Changes in sudden death patterns also affect transplants.

“In recent decades, we’re getting better outcomes from strokes, and we’re getting fewer fatal road traffic accidents,” he said.

However changes in cardiac medicine have seen a rise in donations after cardiac death and he said this "now accounts for about a quarter to a third of all donors".

Dr O’ Brien was speaking during the launch of Organ Donor Awareness Week, which is currently running.

Irish Kidney Association chief executive Carol Moore said she looked forward to changes from the new legislation.

“[Last year] 84 families, in the most tragic of circumstances, selflessly consented to their loved one’s organs being donated,” she said.

“These individual acts of humanity have saved and transformed lives across Ireland and are an example to us all.”