Thread: Australia : Doctors worried about 'cash-for-organs'

Doctors worried about 'cash-for-organs'
February 21, 2010

Hospitals across Australia could be paid to harvest the organs of dead patients under a $17 million federal program.

An "activity-based funding" scheme has been set up under the Organ and Tissue Authority in which hospitals could receive up to $11,400 for each patient who becomes a donor.

The funding is designed to help hospitals cover the costs linked to transplants, but doctors are worried it could be seen as an incentive for hospitals to pressure patients into giving away their organs, the News Ltd says.

The funding proposal has been discussed recently within two Melbourne hospitals and has been endorsed by health ministers, News Ltd says.

"This payment recognises that patients arriving in the ED (emergency department) who are identified as potential organ donors require medical management to maintain their suitability as donors prior to their transfer to ICU," the program's documentation obtained by News Ltd says.

"This payment applies to potential donors that would not normally be transferred to the ICU as part of their treatment or end-of-life care."

Ethicists are encouraging public debate on the funding proposal

news.smh.com.au

mate if they can find anything usefull in this carcass after i,m finished with it , they're welcome to it, and i've got it on my licence and me trustee knows as do the kids.....but i,m not dead yet!
there is still soooooo much beer to be had!

dont drink,dont smoke .but do the rest.can have my parts when ive finished with em.

Originally Posted by nedwalk

mate if they can find anything usefull in this carcass after i,m finished with it , they're welcome to it, and i've got it on my licence and me trustee knows as do the kids.....but i,m not dead yet!
there is still soooooo much beer to be had!

Doest sounds like they can use your liver then