Death Saves eight Lives

The sister of a man whose organs saved eight lives says potential donors should not be scared off by reports of organ 'sales'. Lori White whose brother, Peter Barnes, died in a workplace accident, in 1998, said donating organs was a gift of life.

Ms White said, she was worried that recent reports about the Queensland Government selling 'spare' livers $180,000 would discourage others from donating organs.

"For family who have lost loved ones, it is wonderful to see those organs saving another life", she said.

Ms White said she remained in contact with the woman who had received Peter's heart and the two men who each received one of his kidneys.

"It's great to hear from them and to know that (Peter's death) has improve their health and their quality of life".

She said Peter, an electrician and air sea rescue, would have been glad to know he was helping others lives after his death.

"It's what Peter would have wanted - it was the sort of person who would have done anything to help someone else", she said.

Ms White said she would hate to see potential donors scared off by negative publicity, especially when organisations such as Queenslander Donate worked hard to inform people about the benefits of organ donation.

Dr Stephen Lyoch, director of the Queensland Liver Transplant Service, said there was no 'sale' of organs anywhere in Australia.

"When these patients have transplants here, the money they pay is the cost of the transplant", he said.

"They in no way pay for the organ itself".

Dr Lyoch said available organs were only placed in foreign patients if there was no ,atch on the Australian waiting list.

"This occurs very rarely", said Dr Lyoch.

"Last year, we only did transplants on two foreign people".

"It's a lottery for these people. They come over, sit on the waiting list with the beeper, and just have to wait. The mortality rate on the overseas waiting list is much higher that that on the Australian one".