A GRIEVING Elwood mother is campaigning to have life’s greatest gift - organ donation - acknowledged on death certificates.
Penny Mitchell, who lost her 39-year-old son in August, has been petitioning outside the office of Births, Deaths and Marriages, and has spent three weeks in the cold in Acland and Carlisle streets to encourage shoppers to sign her petition. She wants 10,000 signatures.
> > Find a link to Mrs Mitchell’s petition here
Shane Mitchell Byrne collapsed at his front gate and was later declared brain dead by the Alfred hospital. It will never be known what caused his untimely death. “Shane was an organ donor who helped five people to live and two people to see,” Mrs Mitchell said. “While it may be too late for Shane, I’m doing this for future donors and families as a mark of respect for their gifts to others.”
Mrs Mitchell, with the support of her husband, Bill, has been campaigning for 11 months but has been “thwarted at every level”.
She said death certificates were historical documents and it was important that the organ donor status be acknowledged officially.
Albert Park MP Martin Foley has asked for the support of Heath Minister David Davis and Attorney-General Robert Clarke.
Donate Life statistics show there were 309 organ donors last year, the highest rate in Australia’s recorded donation history.
Donate Life spokesman Terry Oliver said agencies were examining how the request might be accommodated, but it was “a complex process involving different pieces of legislation”.
“Protecting the anonymity of donation is another matter for consideration,” he said.
Penny Mitchell, who lost her 39-year-old son in August, has been petitioning outside the office of Births, Deaths and Marriages, and has spent three weeks in the cold in Acland and Carlisle streets to encourage shoppers to sign her petition. She wants 10,000 signatures.
> > Find a link to Mrs Mitchell’s petition here
Shane Mitchell Byrne collapsed at his front gate and was later declared brain dead by the Alfred hospital. It will never be known what caused his untimely death. “Shane was an organ donor who helped five people to live and two people to see,” Mrs Mitchell said. “While it may be too late for Shane, I’m doing this for future donors and families as a mark of respect for their gifts to others.”
Mrs Mitchell, with the support of her husband, Bill, has been campaigning for 11 months but has been “thwarted at every level”.
She said death certificates were historical documents and it was important that the organ donor status be acknowledged officially.
Albert Park MP Martin Foley has asked for the support of Heath Minister David Davis and Attorney-General Robert Clarke.
Donate Life statistics show there were 309 organ donors last year, the highest rate in Australia’s recorded donation history.
Donate Life spokesman Terry Oliver said agencies were examining how the request might be accommodated, but it was “a complex process involving different pieces of legislation”.
“Protecting the anonymity of donation is another matter for consideration,” he said.
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