Parliament Draws Organ Donor Veto Bill

****FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*****
22 March 2006

Parliament Draws Organ Donor Veto Bill

Parliament is set to debate a change in the law that would stop anyone overturning an organ donors' wishes.

The Human Tissue (Organ Donation) Amendment Bill 2006 sponsored by National Party MP Dr.Jackie Blue was drawn out of the ballot today after being submitted just three weeks ago.

Andy Tookey of organ donor reform lobby group GiveLife NZ who has been working on the details of the bill with Dr.Blue is excited that it has been drawn so quickly. "It's like a lotto some MP's have had their bills in the ballot for two years and still haven't been drawn. Ours has been in for three weeks only." said Mr.Tookey

The bill if it passes through Parliament, would prevent anyone from vetoing the wishes of any person who, whilst in sane mind elected to be an organ donor. New Zealand is currently in the third world statistics for the number of donors it has with just 29 donors for 2005.

"The real work to get this bill through Parliament starts now," said Mr.Tookey. "I will be working hard on the facts, figures and arguments to try and make sure this passes through Parliament smoothly. Already Dr.Blue is referring to it as the "Tookey Bill."

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