Creation of a state consent registry for organ and tissue donations: a step
in the right direction

QUÉBEC, Nov. 11, 2010 /CNW Telbec/ - Québec-Transplant and Héma-Québec applaud the government's commitment to assign the management of a consent registry for organ and tissue collection to the Régie de l'assurance-maladie du Québec (RAMQ), as stipulated in Bill 125, An Act to facilitate organ and tissue donation. They also acknowledge measures intended to facilitate organ donation, particularly the proposed modifications to the Act respecting Labour Standards concerning live donors, disclosed today by Mr. Yves Bolduc, Minister of Health and Social Services.

The creation of this registry to facilitate the donation of organs and tissues is very encouraging news for people waiting for transplants. "Québec-Transplant is thrilled about this announcement, which is intended to ensure that the largest number of people waiting for organs will receive transplants as soon as possible. These measures will also promote the donation of organs between living people, both through Québec's participation in the Canadian registry of living donors combined with an exchange of beneficiaries and through the preservation of an employment relationship and the reimbursement program for living donors," said Mr. Louis Bolduc, General Manager of Québec-Transplant.

"The creation of this registry is good news and a step in the right direction. Certain measures in the bill will facilitate transplants, particularly the stipulation that hospitals will notify the organizations responsible for collecting organs before the imminent death or upon the recent death of a potential organ or tissue donor," said Dr. Francine Décary, President and Chief Executive Officer of Héma-Québec.

The executives of both organizations understand that the measures for coordinating organ or tissue donations between the RAMQ and Québec-Transplant and Héma-Québec still have to be developed, and they will work together actively in this respect.

As of November 8, 2010, 1,245 people were waiting for an organ transplant. Of that number, 75% are waiting for a kidney. Although only 1% of the deaths that occur in hospitals are eligible for consideration of the donation option, Québec-Transplant and Héma-Québec would like to remind people that every consent counts. The two organizations pointed out that it is important for people to indicate their consent for organ and tissue donations, and to inform their loved ones about their decision.

About Québec-Transplant and Héma-Québec
Québec-Transplant is the official organization, mandated by the Minister of Health and Social Services to coordinate organ donation in Québec. It is responsible for coordinating and facilitating the activities pertaining to the identification of potential donors and the attribution of organs so as to contribute to the continuous improvement of the quality of the services offered to people requiring organ transplants. Québec-Transplant makes the general public and health professionals aware of this issue. To learn more: www.quebec-transplant.qc.ca.

In addition to its role as a supplier of blood products for Québec, Héma-Québec also supplies human tissues intended for transplants, including skin grafts, heart valves and muscular-skeletal tissues, such as tendons and bones, and makes them available to hospitals in Québec. Under a partnership agreement with the Québec Eye Bank, Héma-Québec also collects eyeballs to be used for cornea transplants. To learn more about human tissue donation, click on Human Tissues on the Héma-Québec Web site at www.hema-quebec.qc.ca.

For further information:

Brigitte Junius
Québec-Transplant
514-349-0752

Laurent Paul Ménard
Héma-Québec
514-832-0871