** Ontario paramedics to assist in finding tissue donors
CANADA NEWS
** In a slightly different take on expanding EMS scope of practice, paramedics in Cornwall, Ontario will soon be trained to determine whether or not dead patients would be good tissue donors. That is the word from Cornwall Newswatch (July 29) which said the approach is being coordinated with the Trillium Gift of Life Network (TGLN). According to the news site, the agreement to cooperate with TGLN was signed at a July 8th meeting of the city council. The training will help cue paramedics to call the coroner when a good candidate for donation is found. The coroner, in turn, then contacts Trillium. Tissue harvesting must take place within 12 hours of the patient’s death. Prescott-Russell, Ottawa, London, and Renfrew have also agreed to assist in the program which starts this fall.
