NDP MPPs Cheri DiNovo and Peter Kormos blame political inertia for Ontario’s growing organ donor crisis.

“Two years ago I tabled a bill calling for the McGuinty government to solve the organ crisis and adopt presumed consent legislation,” said Kormos. “More than 20 European countries already have implemented such a system and the result means reduced waiting times for transplant patients and countless lives saved.”

DiNovo sees the growing number of Ontarians waiting for an organ as an important ethical issue, which will only get worse with our aging population.

“Nearly 1,700 Ontarians are in need of an organ right now. Last year, 100 Ontarians died waiting. This government isn’t doing enough to save these lives. How is it acceptable for an autopsy to be ordered, but organs that could save lives are wasted?” asked DiNovo. “There are too many people in desperate need and too many people of all ages dying in our hospitals for this to continue to happen.”

Andres Cotic, a resident of Parkdale-High Park, joined Kormos and DiNovo at a press conference this morning to raise awareness. Cotic has been on the wait-list for a liver transplant for more than three years.

“I came to Canada 25 years ago because Canada is a good country with good-natured people. A co-worker who barely knew me donated half of his liver to me and is the reason why I am still here today,” said Cotic, who is still in critical need of a full liver transplant.

“Ontario’s opt-in system does not work; people don’t want to think about their death. I hope we can change this system for others who will one day be in same position I am in.”

DiNovo, Kormos and Cotic urged all Ontarians to sign a current Organ and Tissue Donation card and lobby their MPPs for action on organ donation.