Estate Planning

Are You Ready to Donate?

By Hull and Hull LLP

In the midst of an American media frenzy after the Democrats lost control of the House of Representatives, forcing the issue of universal health care back onto the proverbial chopping block, a special section produced by the Toronto Star's Health Zone on organ donation addresses health issues in our own backyard.

Raising awareness of key issues relating to health concerns is a constant battle. This is likely due to the fact that many of the potential solutions depend on funding and donations which are more frequent if individuals are aware. I have had the good fortune of never having been personally having to deal with organ donation, and thus, when presented with information regarding the organ registry in Ontario, I was surprised at some of the information I discovered, namely that for some organs, Ontario does not have a central registry, leaving each transplant hospital to control its own list. 

Guest Blogger Jennifer Hartman outlined some of the changes to the Ontario organ donation system earlier this year. The recent discussion in the Toronto Star expanded on the changes to the legislation and gives personal stories about being forced through the system which waiting for a donation and struggling to survive. The stories centre on a will to live and note that Toronto has one of the worst records for organ donation in the province. The Toronto Star has compiled this special section in an effort to raise awareness and increase the donor list. Whatever your perspective on organ donation, check out the feature in the Toronto Star, an informed decision is always better. 

Until Tomorrow,

Nadia M. Harasymowycz 

Full post as published by Toronto Estate Law Blog on November 04, 2010 (boomark / email).