FREDERICTON—A former tissue bank specialist in New Brunswick says a shortage of staff to collect donations has left the system broken. Parise Leger says she was devastated by the story of Miramichi-area teen Avery Astle, who died in a car accident Easter weekend. His parents wanted to donate his organs and tissues but were told no one from the specialized team was available to perform the procedure. “I was heartbroken for the family, because I know how important it is for family members to honour the patient’s wishes,” Leger said Thursday. Leger, who left the team in 2017, said at one point there were just two people in New Brunswick assigned to collect donations of tissue such as heart valves, bones and tendons.

Source: thestar May 23, 2019 20:00 UTC