Ethics Researcher Examines Controversies About Organ Donation and Transplantation

HAMILTON, ON, February 27, 2014 (Press-News.org) According to the Trillium Gift of Life Network Website, Canada still faces a greater need for organs and tissue than the number of them available for transplantation. Why this might be will be open for discussion on March 16 in Classroom B of the Juravinski Innovation Tower at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, 50 Charlton Ave. East.

Hosted by the Hamilton Chapter of the Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Foundation of Canada, Ethics Researcher Michael Campbell will give a presentation starting at 2pm and he will answer questions about the ethical considerations involved in organ donation and transplantation.

"Most people should already be aware that in order to 'give the gift of life', signing the donor card or the back of your driver's licence is not enough," says Hamilton Chapter Coordinator, Shiona Mackenzie-Morrison. "Registration is required."

"Trillium Gift of Life Network statistics tell us that more than 85% of Ontarians currently are in favour of organ donation, but less than 25% have registered their consent to donate. It is so easy to register now that one wonders what could be getting in the way. Ethical considerations may be one of the hurdles," she added.

"When you or a loved one is waiting for a kidney transplant, understanding the ethical policies and procedures of a particular medical institution can be overwhelming," says Jeff Robertson, Executive Director of the PKD Foundation of Canada.

"Through Mr. Campbell's experience as a Sr. Fellow at University Health Network, he will provide those in attendance with a better understanding of why certain policies are in place, why some are not and what can be done to improve the system as a whole."

Michael Campbell MHSc, BA joined the PKD Foundation of Canada's Board of Directors in January 2012. He has worked in the University Health Network Bioethics Program as a Senior Fellow in Organ Donation and Transplantation Ethics. He completed a Masters of Health Science degree and a Bioethics Fellowship at the University of Toronto Joint Centre for Bioethics. His research interests included ethical issues in the selection of living organ donors and the allocation of organs from anonymous living donors.

This presentation is part of a series of two-hour informational support meetings hosted by the Hamilton Chapter of the PKD Foundation of Canada. They are open to the public, free of charge. Registration is not required. The venue is wheelchair accessible. Local street parking (free) and hospital parking (payment required) is available.

Contact: hamiltonchapter @endpkd.ca. More information is available on the PKD Foundation of Canada Website, http://www.endpkd.ca.

The PKD Foundation of Canada (PKDFOC) is a grassroots charity founded in 1993. The PKDFOC is the only national organization solely dedicated to fighting PKD through research, education, advocacy, support and awareness. Our goal is simple - to discover and deliver treatments and a cure for PKD. for details, see http://www.endpkd.ca