FAMILIES will no longer be able to overrule a relative's wish to be an organ donor in one of the biggest overhauls of the transplant system.

The government is also looking at scrapping the Roads and Maritime Services (formerly RTA) donor registry in favour of the Medicare Australian Donor Register as part of a discussion paper released today, The Daily Telegraph reported.



That would take NSW from having the lowest transplant rate in the country - 12.4 donors per million compared to the national average of 13.8 per million - to being a leader in organ donations by becoming the first state to change the consent laws.

While NSW has the highest rate of people wanting to be a donor, family refusal rates are more than 45 per cent.

There are currently 1600 people awaiting a transplant. Last year, there were just 309 donors in Australia.

Another option being considered is to fund more "designated requesters" in hospitals to liaise with families regarding consent issues.

The method has been successful in Spain, which has the world's highest rate of 32 donors per million.

Transplant recipient Jessica Sparks, 19, welcomed the move yesterday, after calling on the government to overhaul the system during The Daily Telegraph's People's Parliament this year.

"I wouldn't be here without a donor," she said. "The system should be as donor-friendly as possible."

The government is taking public submissions until January 31 next year before it sets about reforming the donor system.

Health Minister Jillian Skinner said it was important NSW took the imitative and helped to save more lives.

"We have more than two million drivers listed as donors on the RTA register," she said. "The problem is that last year about 50 per cent of potential donors were overruled by their families at the time of their death, so perhaps we need to look at a system where a donor has the final say.

"One donor can help 10 people, so it is time to put our heads and hearts into improving the system and saving more lives."

Nurse Michelle Bradley knows first-hand how difficult - but rewarding - organ donation can be.

Today is the ninth anniversary of her mother Enid becoming an organ donor after her family carried out her wishes when the 71-year-old suffered a brain haemorrhage.

"She had discussed with the family that she wanted to be an organ donor," Ms Bradley said yesterday.

"It wasn't our decision, it was Mum's decision and we were merely honouring that."