.

The need for change

With 10,000 people in the UK waiting for an organ transplant and 3 people dying each day whilst waiting, the UK’s present system of organ donation just isn’t working.

The current UK Donor Register fails to presume people want to donate their organs – even though the over whelming majority do want to.

We have the lowest donation rate in Europe with many other countries having already successfully moved over to opt out organ donation systems.

….

The opt out system

We are campaigning for a UK wide move to a soft opt out system, which combined with a better transplant infrastructure will help save lives. We support a ‘soft’ system under which residents are presumed to be organ donors on death unless:

- They have opted out

- They cannot be identified

- The person’s place of residence cannot be identified

- The wishes of the deceased can be proven to be contrary after relatives have been contacted

- Immediate relatives object.

Wales leads the way…

In December 2009 Wales became the first part of the UK to announce they would move to an opt out system. The Welsh Assembly Government, supported by Kidney Wales is proposing to introduce legislation to introduce a system of “soft” Opt Out, in which the people would be presumed to be organ donors after death unless the above criteria are met.

The BMA in Wales has welcomed moving to a system of ‘soft’ presumed consent, claiming a change in the law would “at a single stroke, save lives whilst still giving the individual the right to have a choice.”

It is widely recognised that a successful switch to an opt out system must be accompanied by an increase and transplant infrastructure. This is already happening in Wales, with the development of a new Transplant Unit and the appointment of a national network of Clinical Leads on Organ Donation and donation co-ordinators.

Wales has thrown down the gauntlet and this campaign is calling for the rest of the UK to follow their lead with UK wide opt out legislation.

Getting the rest of the UK to follow…

.

There is now considerable cross party support for moves to a system of soft opt out across the UK and there have been some moves in Westminster to introduce a system of opt out organ donation; most recently with Jeremy Browne MP’s Private Members Bill. Debate in Westminster has not yet progressed as far as in Wales and we want to get the ball rolling with this campaign.

We want to see a system of soft opt out across the whole of the UK, which would save lives by making donation the default position from which people may opt out during their lifetime if they so choose. The campaign supports a ’soft’ opt-out system which will allow for relatives’ views to also be taken into account. Rather than being asked to consent to donation, they would be informed that their relative had not opted out of donation. Unless they object ‘ either because they know of an unregistered objection by the individual or because it would cause major distress to close relatives ‘ the donation would go ahead.

The introduction of a ’soft’ opt out system will an important move towards donation, without needing major changes to practice. It would respect both the wishes of potential donors and the sensitivities of their families. It will quite simply save lives!

It is important that the NHS is ready for the changes, and additional life saving organs, that a move to opt out will bring. That’s why we support the Minister in allowing a decent period of time for people to prepare for this.

It is possible for Wales to ‘go it alone’ and be the sole nation in the UK operating an opt out system but it would be a far greater step forward for the whole of the UK to move to an opt out system.

Public support for change

The time has come for a change in our attitudes to organ donation in the United Kingdom. Despite decades of campaigning only 28% of people have joined the organ donor register in the UK – yet study after study shows that most people would wish to donate their organs.

Public support for an opt out organ donation system is high, with two to one in favour. With a widespread campaign and greater public information this figure could rise.

Under a ‘soft’ opt out system there is no compulsion. No one donates organs unless they want to do so.