at's our ecision?

The organ and tissue donation process is about making informed choices and discussing them with your family

BYKIRA SPUCYS-TAHAR

Everyone has theirownreasons regarding whether tobecome anorganand tissuedonor.Dr Arvind Rajamani,an Intensive Care Specialist at Nepean Hospital,has been working in d1e field of organ andtissuedo.nationford1epast seven years. After completing most of his medical. training in India, Dr Rajamanihas been in Australia since 2004. In bod1Australia andIndia hehas seenhigh incidences of peoplewho have medesireto donate, but areconfrontedby me manymythsand misconceptions surrounding the organ and tissuedonationprocess.

Dr Rajamani sat down wim Tntlia11Linkto tell us about the importance of broaching chis sensitivesubject wid1your family.

What is the most rewarding thing about workingin organ and tissue donation?

Thefact mat you can help peopleand see me good coming out of abadsituation. I canseethedonation taking placeandd1e differenceit makes to thedonor family.I don't seetherecipients,but lstill get to seesomebenefit coming out of a tragedy.

Thedonor family finds itrewarding and life-changingthemselves.Thereis a transformation of thesituation. Even though d1ey'regrieving,thereissomeone whocan benefit fromtheir loss,whoselife can bechanged forthebetter.

Why is organ and tissue donation important to allAustralians?

Organ andtissuedonation is important not just for Australians,buc for everyonein me world.Therearelots of peopledying from organ failure,suffering wim organ failure. Thecurrentstatistics showtherearearound 1500peopleinneedof atransplant, and more man l0,000 Australians on dialysis. Often, peopledie waiting for a transplant. When atransplanthappens,d1eir lives aretransformed.

Rather than confinehealthy organstoburial orcremation, d1ereis a need totransform chatorganfor anewuse. Peoplecan become fathers and mod1ersagain to their children, contributetosociety by workingagain it's something you can't put intowords.Jc goes to d1e altruismof tbe donor andtheir family.

What faith and cultural groups i.nAustralia support organ and tissue donation?

As far as I understand,almost everyone supports organ andtissuedonation.Most majorreligions aresupportiveand soare most cultural groups.This is a l1Lm1an thing. Most of die time peoplewaneto donate, but might beconcerned.\Vithom the facts,grievingfamiliessometimes make decisions diat arenot in linewith their lovedonesdesires,sowe needtodispel d1e misconceptions.

Is someone more likely to receive a transplantfrom another person who has a similar ethnic background?

Officially,transplants arenot screenedor matchedaccordingtoraceor ethnicity, but themedicalcriteria doctorsuse means someonewhohasasimilar ethnic backgroundwillprobably beagoodmatch. Thebestmatchisusuall)1a siblingorfamily member, but there is alsoa greaterlikelihood of agoodmatch wid'lin the samebroader ethniccommunity. Every raceshouldact on d1eissue of organ andtissuedonation.

Why is it important to register on the Australian Organ Donor Register?

Ir is important for an individual to consider and makeup their ownmind about donation.Then, it is about howthey