Govt. should provide funeral assistance to Organ Donors-Letter to Provincial/Federal Delegates of Canada
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Amar Karma Organ Donation Society
Amar Karma Organ Donation Society
Mississauga, Ontario
December 25, 2011
Ministry of Health & Long Term Care
The Minister
Ontario CA
Honourable Minister,
We are a small group of young volunteers that has formed a non-profit organization based out of the Greater Toronto Area to raise awareness about the need for organ donation. We will be most grateful if you could help cover the funeral expenses for the organ donors because, not only will it ease the cost of Health Care, but it will also encourage more people to register as donors.
As we are all aware of the fact that today more than 1500 people are on the waiting list for transplants in Ontario. Patients in need of a kidney must often wait more than six years for a new organ, and dialysis costs The Health Care System almost 10 times more per patient, than transplants. These procedures cost our Health System $2.2 billion per annum and about $60,000 - $70,000 per person annually. It requires patients to be hooked up to a machine three times a week for four hours at a time. By comparison, a kidney transplant costs about $23,000, and the anti-rejection drugs that recipients receive, cost another $6,000 a year (Source: Auditor General/Globe and Mail).
On the other hand, a funeral costs up to $13,000. Therefore, if a family member of an average resident of Ontario, who is earning an hourly wage of $10.25, (less than $18,000/ year approx.) with the minimum cost of living of $15,000 approx, passes away, would this individual mourn over the death or the cost of death of a family member?
An organ donor saves eight lives and enhances 75 more which reduces the health care expense of those 83 people for the Government. Moreover, besides helping the family that has lost a loved one, this will also inspire others to donate organs. A living donor also deserves some compensation for giving a part of him/her to improve the lives of others.
Trillium Gift of Life foundation spends more than $2 million annually to raise awareness about the subject. The Ontario Government spends billions on promotion of art and culture; hereby, we must also step up to promote this Art of Giving Life for the one who has left life behind for many. Paying for the funerals of organ donors would be ethically justified and would be a form of recognition from society to express their gratitude.
Conclusively, I would like to reinstate that our Government, should provide funeral assistance to organ donors which by healing the health not only leaves a legacy behind but also reduces the health care expense of many people for Government. Moreover, besides helping the family that has lost a loved one this will also inspire others to donate organs. I am certain that our Provincial/Federal Administration will take the above into consideration to support the idea of funeral assistance for the organ donors to help eliminate the current shortage of organs.
Sincerely,
Loveen Kaur Gill
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