Older people’s organs can still save lives | Letters
by Letters from on (#42YCA)
Anthony Clarkson, interim director of NHS organ donation and transplantation, Sue Cartlidge and Ron Brewer respond to a previous letter from Jeanne Felmingham querying whether it's worth having a donor card at the age of 83
Re Jeanne Felmingham's letter (14 November), too many people mistakenly assume their age means they are too old to consider organ donation. However, people in their 50s, 60, 70s and even 80s can all save lives. Nearly 1,000 people aged over 50 donate every year.
Patients who die in circumstances where they may be able to donate their organs, irrespective of age, are considered individually. Clinical teams assess whether or not someone's organs can be safely used to help others, reviewing information from the person's medical and life history and talking to the next of kin.
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