Most 'back presumed organ consent'

The Government is considering bringing in the change which would mean everyone giving "presumed consent" for their organs to be used after death.

At present organs can only be taken from people who have actively chosen to be donors, and carry donor cards. Results from a British Medical Association (BMA) survey showed that 64% of those taking part thought Britain should adopt the new system.

Just over a quarter of the more than 2,000 people surveyed in England, Scotland and Wales, said they were on the NHS Organ Donor Register. And 62% told investigators they would be willing to donate their organs for transplantation after death.

Dr Tony Calland, chairman of the BMA's Medical Ethics Committee said: "These figures demonstrate that support amongst the public is growing for presumed consent. People have obviously been moved by stories they read in the papers about how individuals are given a second chance of life by receiving a donated organ.

"We need to build on this support to ensure that people understand that there will never be compulsion to donate. There will always be a choice and people who do not wish to donate will be free to opt out."

He said surveys had shown that many people who are willing to donate organs never make their wishes known.

Under the "opt out" system, anyone would have the right to demand that their organs are not used. Since the majority of patients were not expected to take this step, the number of organs available for transplant was likely to increase.

"Every year in the UK hundreds of people die because there are not enough organs available for transplantation," said Dr Calland. "The BMA believes that moving to a system of presumed consent, where it is assumed that people are willing to donate their organs after death unless they opt out, combined with other reforms to the transplant infrastructure, would play an important part in improving the organ donation system so that more lives can be saved.

"The BMA is extremely pleased that the Health Secretary is now seriously considering this option and has asked the Organ Donation Task Force to investigate the issues. We hope the Government will take note of the growing level of public support for this change."