Bill proposes assistance fororgan donors

A private member's Bill proposing increasing the Government assistance to live kidney or liver tissue donors has been welcomed by Kidney Health New Zealand's medical director, Prof Kelvin Lynn.

Under the Financial Assistance For Live Organ Donors Bill, which is being sponsored by Dunedin List MP Michael Woodhouse, employed donors would qualify for payment similar to that paid by ACC for injury - 80% of lost earnings for a maximum of 12 weeks after the surgery.

Prof Lynn said while it could not be known what impact such legislation might have, the hope was that it might enable more people to consider organ donations.

Mr Woodhouse said he had an interest in the issue because his best friend had received two kidney transplants, one from a live donor, and a constituent with chronic kidney disease in the family had raised the idea of a Bill.

He knew there were cases of people considering donation, but being unable to because of the financial hurdle.

New Zealand has one of the lowest rates of organ donation in the Western world.

One of the reasons for this is believed to be the financial loss suffered by potential donors.

Mr Woodhouse said while he was not in favour of paying people for their organs, which he saw as ethically and legally wrong, he did support reducing financial barriers for people.

"This is not designed to make people better off."

It was not meant to entice someone to donate who might otherwise be ambivalent about the idea.

There was a widespread belief among live donor advocates that the existing arrangement of paying the sickness benefit which ranged from $127 to $318 a week was insufficient to reduce financial barriers and " not enough for most people".

The Bill also includes provision to continue child-care assistance.

elspeth.mclean@odt.co.nz