Summary#
This bill changes Ontario’s Gift of Life Act to let hospitals publicly name deceased organ and tissue donors in certain cases. The goal is to honor donors while protecting privacy.
- Allows a deceased donor to be named publicly, but only their name—no other details like transplant date.
- Public naming must be for recognition or a memorial to show appreciation.
- At least six months must pass after the transplant before naming.
- A family decision-maker (substitute) must give consent for the public naming and agree to how it will be done.
- Does not change who can donate or how organs are matched and transplanted.
- Takes effect once it becomes law.
What it means for you#
-
Donor families
- You may be asked to allow your loved one’s name to appear on a memorial wall, plaque, website, or ceremony at a hospital.
- You must give consent before any public naming happens, and you can approve the specific form of recognition.
- If your loved one consented to donate before death, a family decision-maker still needs to approve public naming.
- No details beyond the name (like the transplant date) can be shared.
-
Potential donors
- This does not change how you register as a donor or how donation works.
- Your name can only be made public after death if your family decision-maker agrees.
-
Transplant recipients
- Your identity remains confidential. This bill does not reveal who received the organs or tissues.
-
Hospitals
- You may create or update memorials that list donor names, if the family consents and six months have passed.
- You must limit public information to the donor’s name and use it only to recognize and thank the donor.
Expenses#
No publicly available information.
Proponents' View#
- Recognizes and honors donors in a respectful way that many families want.
- May increase public awareness and support for organ and tissue donation.
- Includes privacy safeguards: name only, no dates or extra details, and a six‑month waiting period.
- Respects families by requiring their consent and letting them approve how recognition is done.
Opponents' View#
- Raises privacy concerns: some donors may not have wanted their names shared, and the family’s consent could conflict with the donor’s wishes.
- In small communities, sharing a name might indirectly reveal sensitive details about circumstances around the death.
- Families might feel pressure to agree to public naming during a difficult time.
- Adds work for hospitals to manage consent and maintain memorials, which could create inconsistencies across hospitals.