Family consent key obstacle in deceased organ donation

Family consent remains the primary obstacle in deceased organ donation, according to Dr. Ma. Theresa Bad-ang of Southern Philippines Medical Center-Human Advocate and Retrieval Effort (SPMC-SHARE) in Davao City.

Dr. Bad-ang emphasized during an interview with the Philippine News Agency that public awareness about organ donation is crucial for saving lives.

She highlighted that families often refuse to allow patients with irreversible brain function loss to donate their organs, hindering the process and stressing the need for intensified campaigns.

The doctor encouraged people willing to sign up for donor cards when applying for a driver's license or through the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, urging them to inform their families once signed up.

Dr. Bad-ang noted that around 90,000 Filipinos are on dialysis, with approximately 2,400 patients in the Davao Region experiencing an annual increase of 12 to 15 percent.

She pointed out that while dialysis is free, only about half of patients survive beyond five years, compared to a 98 percent survival rate after organ transplantation.