Widow in organ donor plea
A RUNCORN woman whose husband’s untimely death six years ago helped to save the lives of two other men has urged anyone who wants their organs to be donated to make sure their family members know.
Lorraine Furfie, who lost Paul aged 55 in January 2013 after a DIY accident, joined others affected by the issue at Wigg Island on Monday, September 2, to watch the Mersey Gateway bridge be illuminated green in memory of organ donors everywhere.
She said that knowing that former Apec Taxis boss Paul had contributed to helping others had given his relatives a lot of comfort.
Mrs Furfie used the gathering to stress the importance of anyone wishing to have their organs donated to make sure to tell their own family members as in some cases relatives might stop this from happening even if it is the deceased’s desire.
Although opt-out system is coming into force in April next year whereby it will be assumed that patients who die suddenly are content for their organs to be donated unless they have stated otherwise prior to death, organ donor families fear that some grieving relatives could still intervene.
Mrs Furfie said that in the meantime, anyone not on the organ donation register can still sign up to potentially make a difference between now and next spring.
She said: “It’s quite easy to join and we’re going to have the soft opt-out soon.
“But share your wishes with your family as it seems your family will ● be able to override it.”
She added that donated organs can transform a person’s quality of life and are likely to inspire a profound sense of gratitude, saying: “You gave so many people coming up saying ‘we know your family member’s not our donor but thank you’.”
Jim Fallow, vice chairman of the Donor Family Network, said: “If you’re over 18, have mental capacity, lived in this country for 12 months or more, you’ll be deemed to have given consent.
“However, as is the situation, the family can turn round and say ‘no’, even if you’re signed up to the register.
“The concern we have as the Donor Family Network is people may think ‘we don’t need to do anything’, and the family won’t know what their thoughts are and if they don’t know, they’ll say ‘you can’t have them’.”
Sign up to the organ donation register at www.organdonation.nhs. uk