Organ and tissue donation by 
Transplant Australia is a charity which supports transplant recipients and their families; people on the waiting list, donor families, living donors, healthcare professionals and all those touched by organ and tissue donation.
This animated video explains the transplant waiting list, how someone becomes a donor, the process of matching organs, and signing up to share the gift of life.
So, what actually is an organ transplant? An organ transplant is the replacement of a damaged or missing organ by a working and healthy organ - they can be any organs from livers to kidneys to skin (yes skin is an organ!). Transplants can save or greatly enhance lives.The donated organ can either be from a deceased donor, so the donor decided to donate their organs before they died.
With just 13.8 donors per million people last year, Australia has one of the lowest organ donation rates in the developed world. While that may be the highest figure in ten years, it remains well below other countries, such as Spain - considered world leader with 32 donors per million in 2010. This week Insight asks why Australians are saying no when it comes to donating organs. It may be psychological barriers that are stopping patients, and their relatives from saying yes. But some say Australia has a flawed system. Despite dedicated organ donation teams in hospitals, potential donors are not being identified and family members are not consulted sensitively - and are sometimes overriding the wishes of their loved ones.
Access EBSCO eBooks via BenniesNet. Type in your keywords to search the databases.
Organ and tissue donation is a process that can help save and transform lives. We have put together a list of frequently asked questions to help you find answers and address worries around this emotionally charged topic
Bioprinting Organs – A Future Alternative to Organ Donation
