Plea for organ donors

There are currently about 530 people on the transplant waiting list in Scotland and, sadly, some of them will die while they are waiting.
Repeated studies show that up to 90 per cent of the population supports organ donation, yet only 41 per cent have signed up to the organ donor register.
Dr Sue Robertson, a renal physician, said: “Organ transplantation is an area that has seen amazing medical achievements but has not yet reached its full life-saving and life-transforming potential. As doctors it is difficult to see our patients dying and suffering when their lives could be saved or dramatically improved by a transplant.”
She is a member of the BMA, which is encouraging people to make their views known to the their family.
Dr Robertson added: “It is important that an individual’s views on organ donation are taken into account following their death.”
Lung transplant recipient Gill Hollis is backing the message and said: “I wouldn’t be here today without my transplant, so I am incredibly grateful to my donor family; their generosity saved my life. But I was one of the lucky ones – I received my transplant in time. I’ve also supported people through the waiting process who did not receive an organ in time, and that’s been heartbreaking.
“So you can see why I feel passionately about initiatives to address the organ shortage.”