43% of Ontario doctors are organ donors compared to 24% of the general public

A new study has revealed that just over 43% of Ontario doctors have registered to donate their organs, a rate that's significantly higher than the general population.The study was conducted by the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences and provide a snapshot of donor rates in May 2013, the Globe and Mail reported.Gender, age and specialty all seemed to be influencing factors. Fifty percent of female doctors were registered compared to 39.1% of men. Fifty four percent of doctors under 39 registered compared to 27.2% of doctors over 70. Those who were Canadian-educated, practicing in emergency medicine, pediatrics, or in rural settings were more likely to have registered than those who weren't.According to the Canadian Institute for Health information, 230 people died in 2012 waiting for organs. Ronnie Gavsie, the president and CEO of Trillium Gift of Life Network, told the Globe and Mail that, given the shortage, potential donors often worry that doctors won't work as hard to save their lives if they are registered donors.He added that publishing registration rates among doctors might help alleviate some of those concerns.But there has been come questions as to why the registration among doctors isn't higher. In a statement published in JAMA, Dr. Amit Garg of the London Health Sciences Centre wrote that "a lot of physicians are in full support...they just haven't taken the time, just like members of the general public to register online," the Globe and Mail reported.Even among doctors, there is the common misconception that signing a donor card and stuffing it in your wallet is just as good, it said in the Globe and Mail's report.

43% of Ontario doctors are organ donors compared to 24% of the general public

Register for free access or login.

Related Topics

Business Topic