The Wire

A patient waiting for a heart and double lung transplant has re-ignited the debate over Australia adopting an “opt out” system for organ donations. Also known as “presumed consent”, instead of registering to donate organs on death, it’s assumed that everyone is a donor, unless they “opt out”. In February this year the federal government received reccomendations from the National Clinical Task Force on organ donations. In an online opinion piece, Tim Richards says that since receiving the report, 11 people have died waiting for transplants. He says its time to make radical changes.