House debates

Tuesday, 3 March 2020

Statements by Members

Organ and Tissue Donation

1:59 pm

Photo of Nicolle FlintNicolle Flint (Boothby, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Today I want to say thank you to everyone who is a registered organ donor. Thank you to the families who have made the heartbreaking decision to donate the organs of their loved ones to save the lives of others. Thank you to the medical professionals who make this possible. Thank you to the individuals who have bravely shared their stories to encourage others to give the gift of life, like the member for Mallee, her daughter Bethany and granddaughter Emmy, and like local Boothby resident Lauren White.

Lauren's very active seven-year-old son, Ollie, went from competing in the scooter state championships to acute liver failure within a month. They still don't know why. But they do know that Ollie lived, because an organ donor was found successfully. Lauren and her family are eternally grateful for their generosity. Thanks to the selflessness of another family and a team of wonderful medical professionals Ollie's life was saved. Lauren wants to make sure that everyone knows that you need to register and consent to become an organ donor through DonateLife, which you can do at donatelife.gov.au. You also need to let your family know that you've registered and consented. This is critical so that dedicated medical professionals like renal transplant specialist Professor Toby Coates can save lives. Professor Coates, with whom I met recently, is at the forefront of renal transplants in South Australia. We can all help raise awareness of organ donation. I would like to thank the members for Macarthur and Mallee for their efforts as co-chairs of parliamentary friends of organ donation and their event last week.

Comments

No comments