Home / Health / P.E.I. Welcomes New Organ Donation Liaison Role
P.E.I. Welcomes New Organ Donation Liaison Role
24 Apr
Summary
- New liaison will support families through organ donation process.
- Role focuses on external coordination and staff support.
- P.E.I. partners with Nova Scotia and New Brunswick for retrievals.
Prince Edward Island is introducing a new liaison position dedicated to supporting organ and tissue donation processes. This role will be housed within Health P.E.I. and aims to assist both families experiencing loss and healthcare staff navigating these sensitive situations. The province currently sends all organ donors to Nova Scotia or New Brunswick for retrieval, making the liaison a key point of contact for these external organizations.
The primary focus will be on providing emotional and practical support to donor families during an extremely difficult time. This includes assisting with decision-making, offering more information, and managing arrangements for farewells. The new role also addresses the need for better-equipped hospital staff who may not frequently encounter organ donation procedures.
Health and Wellness Minister Cory Deagle acknowledged the long-standing need for such a position on the Island. The announcement was made during National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week, which also featured a proclamation honouring Brodie McCarthy, a young donor whose family's decision helped save multiple lives. McCarthy's mother shared her pride and hope that his story will inspire more Islanders to register as organ donors.
