Call for ‘opt-out’ system to be put in place for organ donation

By Mary Dennehy

A LOCAL councillor who gave his 20-year-old son the life-changing gift of a kidney is calling for the introduction of an ‘opt-out’ or presumed consent system in relation to organ donation.

Living in Templeogue with his wife Cathy and five kids, Councillor Ronan McMahon’s son Eoghan was diagnosed with a progressive kidney disease called FSGS (focal segmental glomerulosclerosis) when he was only ten years old.

For 18 months, Eoghan, who was on the transplant list, was on dialysis three times a week before his dad tested positive as a kidney donor – with the transplant operation taking place last June.

Cllr McMahon told The Echo: “Eoghan’s life has dramatically changed since getting the transplant eight months ago.

“Before the transplant Eoghan’s life revolved around 21 hours of dialysis a week and in between he didn’t always feel that great or had low energy.

“Now, he’s in his second year of Product Design in NCAD [National College of Art and Design], is holding down a part-time job and planning a holiday away with friends – things that just weren’t possible for him while on dialysis.

“He’s living life to the full and has been given the opportunity to do things that most of us take for granted.

Cllr McMahon, who is a member of Renua, has tabled a motion which asks South Dublin County Council to call on the Minister for Health to bring in legislation that would see organ donation change to a system of presumed consent or opt-out, rather than Ireland’s current system where people have to opt-in to be a doner.

He said: “In Ireland, our rate of kidney transplants from deceased donors is approximately half the rate that it is in Spain per capita.

“Spain was the first country in Europe to introduce an opt-out or presumed consent system in organ donation.”
He added: “I don’t understand why the Minister for Health isn’t pushing this.

“Firstly, organ donation can totally change the life of a transplanted patient.

“Anybody who has been close to someone who has had kidney failure knows the constant heartache, the shortening in the expected lifespan and the major reduction in their quality of life – not only of the patient, but their immediate family.

“After the impact it can have on a person, organ donation also makes sense financially.

“Not only is my son Eoghan living life to the full, but he is participating in the economy and working instead of costing the State between €60k and €70k every year for dialysis.”

According to Cllr McMahon, it costs the State around €30,000 to carry out a kidney transplant operation compared to €60k to €70k for dialysis each year for one patient.

There are approximately 1,900 patients currently on dialysis in Ireland, 560 of whom are on the kidney transplant list and facing an average waiting time of two-and-a-half years for a kidney.

For many however, the wait can be a lot longer.

“For me, the opt-out system is a no brainer,” Cllr McMahon said.

“Hopefully if my motion is passed in council chambers, we can write to the Minister and highlight this issue and put pressure on him to act.”

He concluded: “One deceased donor can save up to eight lives.

“I know it can be a difficult conversation to have with your family, but I would encourage people to have that conversation and make their family aware of their wishes.”

The Irish Kidney Association’s Organ Donor Awareness Week, which will run from April 1 to April 8 during which, the key message encourages people to have a discussion with their family and friends about their wishes in relation to organ donation.

To request an organ donor card from the Irish Kidney Association Freetext DONOR to 50050, download the organ donor ecard from the Google Play Store or iStore or visit www.ika.ie/card.