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Ontario Organ Recipients Call for Presumed Consent Law to Address Transplant Crisis

With 1,600 patients on transplant wait-lists, advocates urge Premier Doug Ford's government to back the reintroduced Peter Kormos Memorial Act.

Helene Campbell, double-lung transplant recipient, smiles during a news conference in Ottawa on Tuesday September 18, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Overview

  • The Peter Kormos Memorial Act, reintroduced in April 2025, proposes shifting Ontario's organ donation system to presumed consent, requiring individuals to opt out rather than opt in.
  • Ontario faces a critical shortage with 1,600 people on transplant wait-lists and a death occurring every three days due to organ unavailability.
  • Advocates Hélène Campbell and Lisa Caswell, both directly impacted by organ transplants, are leading calls for legislative action to save more lives.
  • Despite 90% of Ontarians expressing willingness to donate, only 36% are registered under the current opt-in system, highlighting a significant gap.
  • Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have seen success with presumed consent laws, but Canadian Blood Services emphasizes the need for complementary strategies like in-hospital coordinators and public education.