Press Room

TORONTO, April 14 2009 - Campaign Life Coalition is seriously concerned about the discussion surrounding the debate over a child's life and the donation of her organs. "The unfolding drama of Baby Kaylee and Baby Lillian has tugged at our hearts and countless prayers have been offered by people for the babies and their families," said Jim Hughes, National President of Campaign Life Coalition.
Some in the media and medical profession are referring to brain death, an imprecise and dangerous notion that can have lethal consequences for those who are not yet truly dead. "Brain death is not true death but a method devised to end a life to retrieve organs from the patient," said Mr. Hughes.
Dr. John Shea, Campaign Life Coalition's medical consultant answers the question on brain death this way: 'Brain Death', is the most common determination of death prior to organ harvesting and involves the cessation of brain activity. There is no general agreement that 'brain death' is in fact death. The criteria for establishing 'brain death' varies from the US to England and through the other countries of Europe.
"The fundamental question is -'is the person dead?' It is not ethical to harvest organs from living persons if it will result in their deaths. That is true even if we don't know for sure that the person is living or dead, as in the case of some people in coma and on life support. Thus the answer to the question - is the person dead - is resoundingly that we don't know in the case of 'brain death'."
Campaign Life Coalition urges the Provincial Government to exercise extreme prudence when developing legislation on organ donation. Every caution should be taken to ensure those who are still alive are not killed for organ harvesting.

For further information: Media Contact: Mary Ellen Douglas, CLC National Organizer, (613) 389-4472 (phone and message); Jeff Gunnarson, CLC Toronto, (416) 204-9749