Consultation on organ donation opt-out system

The Department of Health has announced the intention to launch a public consultation on increasing rates of organ donation.

The consultation will propose to automatically enter everyone on the donor register, unless they decide to opt out, and will be launched by the end of the year. Under the current system, anyone wishing to donate their organs has to opt in via the registration and organ donor card scheme run by NHS Blood and Transplant.

Despite high transplant rates over the last few years, there are still more people waiting for transplants than there are organs available.

The Department of Health will seek views on how the issue of consent should be managed within the NHS and how opt-out could work in practice, what safeguards would be necessary, and how families could be supported.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: “Too many people still wait too long for an urgent transplant and we must urgently address this. Just as most people would be willing to accept an organ if their life was at risk, most people would be willing to donate one to help save somebody else. All these issues will be looked at in the consultation and we welcome all those with views to come forward with their contributions.”