Publication Source: The Ottawa Citizen
Source Link: View the full original article >>
Author: Annadeane Kerr
Re: Hundreds march in support of Hélène Campbell’s Be an Organ Donor campaign, March 30.
On March 30th I attended the Torch for Life campaign march from Ottawa City Hall to Parliament Hill.
I am a registered nurse, co-worker and friend of Hélène Campbell and her mom, Manon Roy Campbell.
Hélène, the young woman from Ottawa who spearheaded the #BeAnOrganDonor campaign to increase awareness in organ donation, joined the march live via Skype, as she was awaiting a call from Toronto for a double-lung transplant.
There were speeches during the campaign once we arrived at Parliament Hill from various MPs, but one in particular struck a note with me. It was MP Elizabeth May’s speech regarding “reverse onus clause,” which would shift the organ donor registration in Canada from “opt in” having to register to donate organs to “opt out” having to register not to donate organs. Spain has this policy and has one of the highest rates of organ donation in the world.
I am passionate about increasing organ donation in Canada and feel Canadians need to be given relevant information to dispel myths surrounding retrieval and the importance and safety of donation.
On Twitter, search for #BeAnOrgan-Donor, #GiveBlood and #SaveALife and visit the website beadonor.ca.
Annadeane Kerr
Nepean