Move to put dying on curriculum

Organ donation, death and dying should be taught in schools, the newly appointed clinical director of Organ Donation New Zealand says.

Dr Stephen Streat, an intensivist at Auckland City Hospital, said people did not like to talk about death. Smaller family sizes and the fact people had children later meant many never knew their grandparents and had limited experience of death.

Dr Streat said by discussing the issues in schools, children could take the information home, talk to their families and over time, as happened with issues such as smoking, it could change attitudes.

"Talking with children is one way of dispersing the discussion, putting it on the agenda," he said.

"I believe that children in schools are capable, willing and interested in these matters. I don't think we should prejudge them as not being able to deal with these issues."

Dr Streat said a pilot programme was being run in Australia and he would pursue the idea with the Ministry of Health. Issues such as what age was appropriate, what was taught and who would teach it would need to be worked through.

Graham Young, president of the New Zealand Secondary School Principals Association, believed there was a place for organ donation to be discussed in secondary schools "putting it at the forefront of young people's minds" but said it would need to be carefully managed. Grief and managing grief was already part of the health curriculum.

But Pat Newman, national president of the New Zealand Principals Federation, said he would have a "real problem" with such issues being discussed with young children. He believed it might be appropriate at age 16 and upwards as part of a discussion on ethics or citizenship but cultural differences and parental views needed to be taken into account.

"I am sympathetic to the issue but I don't believe it's appropriate ... it is such a sensitive thing, I think a family needs to discuss it."

Today marks the first world day for organ donation and transplantation and Organ Donation New Zealand is encouraging New Zealanders to discuss organ donation with their families.

New Zealand has one of the lowest organ donation rates in the world - about 9.8 per million people - and that will never keep pace with demand. About 350 people are waiting for transplants, mostly kidneys.

Despite the fact that hundreds of thousands of people have indicated a willingness to donate on their driver's licence, each year only about 100 people die in a way that means they can donate. Organ donation is only possible when a person's brain has died and they are on a ventilator in an intensive care unit. Last year 40 people donated their organs.

Dr Streat said many myths existed about organ donation, from fears that if people said they would donate, doctors would not do their best to keep them alive if they ended up in hospital, to being too old.

Last month Labour promised to set up an organ donor register but that is not supported by medical staff who say they will continue to ask a person's family about their loved one's wishes. Australian research indicated only a small percentage of families overturned a loved one's wishes.

Organ Donation New Zealand aimed to ensure all potential donors were identified and the issue of donation discussed, where appropriate, with family.

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