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A new campaign encourages Australians of all backgrounds to enlist as organ donors

t any one time, more than 1500 Austral ians are on official transplam ,vai ting lists, hoping they'll be one of the lucky ones to receive an organ transplant before i e's coo late.

Dr Gopal Taoci, an intens ive care specialist originally from Maharashtra but practising in A u stralia for t he past ten years and currently wo r king for the Monash Health Network, is a pass ionate advocate for organ d onation

"I see both sides of the scory," Dr Taori says. "I see tl1ose with organ failure who are on a long waiting list, patients dying while waiting. On the other hand, I see families who are going through a difficul t time, w ith a potenti,1cl lack of knowledge abo u t organ donation. I feel it is imp ortant to help facilitate organ and tissue donation, to help people better understand the process."

Dr Taori says the most common questions about organ donation come from grief-stricken family members who want co e n sure their loved ones are n ot harmed and do not experience an y suffering. " T he organ donation process usually ta kes place after a catastrophic eve n t or accident, and everything occu rs in a short time. People need co know we are crying t o keep the patient alive as our first priority, but after death, t heir organs can help so m eone e lse."

Dr T aori says families in a state of shock often use re ligion as an excuse, with o rgan donation the last thing on their minds. But each person who d onates their o rgans can save up co ten lives

Hindus believe that the ph rsical bod y is mortal and perishab le, while the so ul is immortal and imperishable. Dr Taori, a follower of Hinduism, does not see any conAict between religion and organ donation

" There is a culture of fear and misunderstanding around the organ donation process," he says. "When it is explained ro people, eithe r in a hospital environment or the community, people are exceptionally receptive ro the in formation."

President of d1e Hindu Council of Australia N ih al Agar confirms organ and tissue donation is compatib le wid1 religion "The Hindu texts do not provide specific guidance or direction 011 this matter, " h e says. ''There is no moral or ethical dilemma for Hindus wishing to donate their organs."

"Support for organ donation is inferred in man y of di e texts and in Hi n du mythology where there is support for organ donation for the beuefi t of otl1ers," Professor Agar continued. "We can say then, from a Hindu perspective, organ donation is a spiritually advantageous deed provided the decision is made with th e kn owledge and agreement of the donor."

CEO of d1e Organ and T issue A u thority (OTA) Yael Cass said the authori ty recognises faith is an important aspect o f how people live t heir lives and make important li fe dec is ions. "The OTA understands the significant roles chat faitb can play for many people," she said. " In reaching out co the major religious leaders t hrough d1e Doflate Life the greatest gift campaign , we have gained a mutual understanding about organ and tiss u e donation and forged cl o se partners hips "

Dr Taori encourages everyone to talk more openly with their family members and friends about organ donation "There are concerns, especially froin members o f tbe Indian co mmunity, about di e process. People want to make sme there isn't some 'black market', tha t t h eir lm7 ed one's organs go co the rig ht person," he says. "Th ey're u sed to the Indian healthcare system, often a corrupted process, so they have m isgivi ngs, bur here in Australia organ and tissue donation is highly regulated."

When asked if he has had tl1e conversation with his own family, Dr Taori replies, "My whole family are listed as organ donors I wouldn't get into chis if I didn't believe in it myself."

Kira Spucys-Tahar