MMSA Proposal for Online Petition on Organ Donation The Malta Medical Students Association (MMSA) is a non-governmental, voluntary student association which represents all students reading a degree in Doctor of Medicine and Surgery at the University of Malta. The MMSA, with the support of the Malta Transplant Support group, is taking the initiative to start a petition on organ donation. The aim of this petition is to raise awareness about the current and proposed changes to the regulations governing organ donation in Malta. In Malta, having a donor card does not mean that when someone passes away, their organs are going to be donated. The next of kin, whoever it may be, has to give his/her permission first. Thus, if he or she does not agree with organ donation, there is the chance that they may refuse to give such permission, and healthy organs that can save a lot of lives end up not being donated. By this petition, the MMSA proposes that any person whose age is eighteen years or over, the legal adult age in Malta, has the right to decide what he or she wants to do with their organs after his/her death. Thus, being in possession of a donor card would mean that the individual expressed his informed will to donate his or her organs post-mortem and that this wish is inalienable, ie. it does not require any other consent from a third-party after the individual’s demise, regardless whether from their relatives or otherwise. In other words, as medical students we wish to change the current regulations: the donor card should be considered as the exclusive form of permission from the deceased for the donation of their organs. In addition to this, the association would like to encourage the public to become organ donors. Through this petition, the MMSA would also like to show its support towards the publishing of a white paper on organ donation, which was proposed during the Budget 2015 by the Government of Malta. This white paper will lead to the first law on organ donation in Malta.
Hereunder is a message from the President of the Transplant Support Group (Malta) which is supporting the MMSA on this proposal:
This is to confirm the approval of the Committee of the Transplant Support Group (Malta) for the Malta Medical Students Association to initiate an Online Petition re-Organ Donation and Transplants, meant to upgrade an awareness for more and more people to register as prospective organ donors, so that their organs/tissues may be used for tranplants, following their demise.
Signed, on behalf of the TSG Committee, ALFRED DEBATTISTA (Group President) Tel 21223026 Mob. 79264179.
Gabriel J. Ellul MMSA President 2014-2015
Martina Gerada MMSA Public Health Officer 2014-2015
Melise Mifsud MMSA Blood & Organ Donation Coordinator 20145 - 2015