NSW: Talk, don't think about donating organs - minister

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NSW: Talk, don't think about donating organs - minister

New South Wales Health Minister CRAIG KNOWLES has urged potential organ donors to puttheir intentions on the record with their families -- before they find themselves in thecrisis ward.

Mr KNOWLES has made the appeal to coincide with the announcement of a special SteeringCommittee charged with convincing more people to donate their organs.

He says Australia has relatively poor donation rates in international terms.

Research released by the LifeLink organ donation network shows more than 97 per centof people in NSW think organ donation is a good idea.

But there were only 206 Australian donors in 2002.

Mr KNOWLES says people must get beyond just thinking organ donation is a good idea.

Professor of Medicine at Sydney University, Dr DAVID TILLER, says the decision aboutorgan donation ultimately is with family members, who usually decline if they haven'tbeen informed about the wishes of the potential donor.

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KEYWORD: ORGANS NSW (SYDNEY)