Yesterday the government announced the establishment of an Australian Law Reform Commission inquiry into human tissue laws, to determine whether legislative reform is required to harmonise laws across the nation, given the laws have not been comprehensively reviewed in nearly 50 years.

But transplant clinicians say donor recipients are on long waiting lists and Australia's outdated definition of death is seriously hindering organ transplantation from using the latest technology to achieve optimal patient outcomes.Professor Angela Webster told RN Breakfast Australia says the definition of death in Australia lags behind international standards.

• Guest: Professor Angela Webster, Senior Staff Specialist in Transplantation, Westmead Hospital, NSW