Ontario's organ donation system failed to record accurate information from donors who signed up online between March 23, 2013 and Sept. 19, 2014.
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care informed the Trillium Gift of Life Network, which promotes organ donations in Ontario, about the error, which incorrectly recorded exclusion information from donors.
Exclusions are when a registered donor chooses to exclude certain organs or tissue from their consent for donation.
During the 18-month period when the information was not properly recorded, 60,000 people registered their wishes online to donate their organs.
In the same period, nine of the newly registered organ donors died, but the Trillium Gift of Life Network has confirmed that their organ donations were in keeping with their wishes.
When the problem was identified, ServiceOntario disabled online registration.
The 60,000 people who registered to become organ donors online between March 23, 2013 and Sept. 19, 2014 have been asked to update their information to be sure it is complete and accurate.
The province has mailed letters to each affected person to inform them about the mistake.
NDP health critic and Nickel Belt MPP France Gélinas said in a statement that she was disappointed to learn about the error.
“A properly functioning organ donation system is vital to help patients in need and to respect the wishes of organ donors,” said Gélinas in a statement. “Patients and registered donors want to know how this problem flew under the radar for a year and a half? How did this problem go undetected? Were any registered donors’ wishes to donate incorrectly denied after they passed away?”
Gélinas added the integrity of the province's organ donation system rests on the public's trust.
Currently, 26 per cent of Ontarians 16 years of age or over are registered organ and tissue donors.
One organ donor can save up to 8 lives and enhance the lives of up to 75 others through tissue donation, says the Trillium Gift of Life Network.
