One essential act saves lives: donation

The donor rate in Canada has more than doubled as compared to 30 years ago, which is a hopeful figure for families relying on a willing donor.

Today, Canada is seen as a world leader in understanding organ and tissue donation, answering to complex questions of cardiac or brain death. This is largely thanks to the pioneering efforts made by Dr. Sam Shemie, who among other roles, is a member of the Order of Canada and the Director of the Division of Critical Care Medicine at the Montreal Children’s Hospital (MCH). He has devoted his career to improving the process of organ donation, without compromising the life-saving care that is expected of every ICU physician.

There is indeed a gap to bridge: whereas ICU physicians are expected to work to save the life of someone who is critically ill or injured, it is also true that some won’t survive after all efforts are made. In those instances, organ donation would be a possibility provided the patient or family’s consent and the readiness of the physician and care team.

When he reflects on Canada’s leadership, Dr. Shemie is most proud of the medical, ethical, and legal guidance Canada has for all aspects of the organ donaton process. It is translating to better practices and technology including the introduction of normothermic regional profusion (NRP), a form of ECMO that performs the necessary task of resuscitating organs with oxygenated blood flow.

The first step? A bit of inspiration

Dr. Shemie’s own inspiration began with one infant whose life was saved thanks to the donation of a heart. This took place nearly two decades ago, and the baby has since grown into a young man who leads a full life.

“We try to encourage the public to think about organ donation ahead of time. At minimum, let your loved ones know what you would want to do. Your family can be guided by what you would want.”

The next step is to register your decision.

“The gesture of caring for people you don’t know is heroic,” asserts Dr. Shemie. “We should be aware that amazing gestures of humanity are still happening every day, no matter the controversies and conflict we constantly see in the news. People who consent to organ donation, as well as anyone who works in healthcare, and all those who care for people they do not know, are vital to humanity.”

This week, efforts to raise awareness for organ and tissue donation are happening across Canada.