Cash for kidneys as organ donors set to get wage from government

1. Living donors will be offered cash grants up to $3,600
2. Donors must have a job and employers will distribute payments over six weeks
3. Paid leave scheme will be offered for living donors offering kidneys and parts of their liver

AUSTRALIA will pay living organ donors a six-week wage of up to $3600 to donate a kidney in a bid to slash the waiting lists for surgery.

Federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek will today announce the radical pilot program to offer living donors a six-week wage to reduce financial pressures during the recovery phase of the major surgery.

It is hoped the measure will improve the chances of the 1000 Australians on the waiting list for a new kidney, who are forced to rely on dialysis to survive.

In the majority of cases, it is a parent, sibling or relative who offers to donate one of their kidneys to save the life of a loved one, placing financial pressure on families.

Selling or buying organs remains illegal in Australia, prompting some people to travel overseas for life-saving transplants.

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I'm really not sure whether this is a good idea or not; it may encourage some to donate to relatives, but will the promised cash over-ride other considerations such as their own long-term health concerns? Be interested to hear what those of you in the medical and nursing professions think?

Very interesting. I'd be tempted but I need both of mine.

I don't think money should change hands on this, paid leave yes but nothing more than that!

Support should be offered for time that they have to have off work, but cash should not be offered as an incentive to donate.

Actually, you don't. Lots of people live perfectly normal lives with only one kidney.

As for the payments, I'm ok with it. Donating an organ is a major operation and donors need to take time off work to recuperate. If they don't have enough sick leave accumulated then it would be easier for them to agree to donate if they know they're not going to have to take time off work unpaid.

Will they take pommie kidneys and liver that lived through the BSE episode in the uk?????

They'll take them after you're dead so I can't see why not.

People in 3rd world countries sell kidneys, etc to improve their lives so this is no different.