Legislative Evaluation: Assessment of Deceased Donation Reform (LEADDR) Program
In April 2019, Nova Scotia became the first jurisdiction in North America to pass deemed consent legislation with the introduction of the Human Organ and Tissue Donation Act (HOTDA). This means that it will be possible for more Nova Scotians to donate their organs and tissues unless they opt out.
The purpose of The Legislative Evaluation: Assessment of Deceased Donation Reform (LEADDR) Program study is to gather evidence to inform legislative strategies to improve donation and to rigorously evaluate the impact of the overall implementation.
Health Canada’s investment through its Organ Donation and Transplantation Collaborative, whose mandate is to help make transformative changes in organ donation and transplantation systems across Canada, has awarded $1.1 million to Nova Scotia Health, in collaboration with its key partners including: Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness, Canadian Donation and Transplant Research Program, Transplant Québec, and Canadian Blood Services.
LEADDR is being led by Drs. Stephen Beed, Medical Director of Nova Scotia’s Organ Donation Program and Matthew Weiss, Director of Donation, Transplant Québec. LEADDR is supported by Administrative Lead, Dr. Gail Tomblin Murphy, VP of Research, Innovation and Discovery and Chief Nurse Executive, Nova Scotia Health.
The three-year funding support will enable a structured review and evaluation that will provide invaluable information and insight as other jurisdictions look to Nova Scotia’s experience and consider introducing the deemed consent model in their own jurisdictions.