Shortage of kidneys for surgery

Press, 27 April 1989, Page 20

Shortage of kidneys for surgery

PA Wellington Despite the willingness of people to donate kidneys, New Zealand still has a waiting list for transplant surgery, the chairman of the National Kidney Foundation, Mr Jack Barr, says. Overcoming the shortage of organs available for transplant surgery should be a priority, he said. “Each year 100 more

New Zealanders suffer end-stage kidney failure, joining the much larger number who are kept alive only by regular dialysis, which replaces the kidney’s functions.” Mr Barr said that apart from a kidney donated by a relative, the only other source was a person who had been pronounced brain dead but was still on a life support system. Y A doctor might some-

times be reluctant to ask a grieving relative for approval to remove an organ for transplant but experience had shown that relatives were often upset that they were not given the opportunity to salvage some good from a family tragedy. “We know from the national organ donor register that a sufficient number of the public are happy to donate." Mr B#rr said. • '■