Organ Donation

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.