Family of tragic Hamilton boy back organ donation teaching pack

Jan 28 2010 by Gary Fanning, Hamilton Advertiser

The family of a young Hamilton boy who died in a horror road accident have backed the launch of a new Scottish organ donation teaching pack.

Thirteen-year-old Daryl Turley’s story is one of three featured in a video which accompanies the revised pack and is being distributed to all Scottish secondary schools.

The resource was launched by Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon.

As well as Daryl’s story, the video features two other real-life stories from families who have been affected in some way by organ donation, as well as contributions from a transplant surgeon, an intensive care consultant and a donor transplant co-ordinator who works with hospital staff and donor families.

Ms Sturgeon said: “No-one wants to think about their own death but it is important that young people throughout Scotland learn about the realities of organ donation.

“From the age of 12, they can decide for themselves whether they want to donate their organs in the event of their death.

“By raising awareness of donation and transplantation, dispelling the myths behind the medical science and discussing the ethics, we can ensure they are able to make an informed choice.”

Daryl’s family wanted to be involved with the education pack to help more young people understand the issue.

The Holy Cross High School pupil died in February 2009 after he suffered head injuries when he was knocked down by a motorbike in Bothwell Road. Mum Lily and dad Davy made the decision to donate his organs to help others. Daryl’s heart, kidneys, liver and bowel were all transplanted, saving the lives of five people.

Mrs Turley said: “I wanted to make sure something good came out of something so tragic. It’s a positive way to think, I believe.

“I’ve never had second thoughts or regretted it. If you are going, you are going. Don’t waste those organs.

“This pack will help educate young people about organ donation so they can make informed decisions about their own views.

“It’s important they get the facts about organ donation and not myths.”

The pack has been developed in line with Curriculum for Excellence for S2-6 pupils. It can be used across science lessons as well as in social education and citizenship.

The materials have been designed to help young people make informed, educated choices about organ donation.

The pack provides teachers with lesson plans and resources covering the science behind transplants and organ donation.

It also covers the medical issues which can lead to the need for a transplant, transplant laws, including the impact of opting-out legislation, and information on ethical and religious debates.

The original Organ Donation Teaching Resource Pack was issued in 2003 and was also widely used across a number of subjects.

Since it was issued, there have been a number of significant developments, including the Human Tissue Scotland (2006) Act and the 2008 reports by the UK Organ Donation Taskforce. There have also been developments in relation to transplantation itself.