Everyone in the UK to become an organ donor!
Alan Johnson, the Health Secretary, has initiated a task force to investigate the possibility of making every UK citizen have “Presumed Consent” unless they specifically opt out or object.
This move follows on from a report published by Prof. Sir Liam Donaldson earlier this year, however Dr. Harry Brown from Scotland rejected the proposal and there are patient groups in England who are against the plans.
This move will be reviewed by “The Organ Donation Taskforce”, set up in 2006, who will weight up the ethical issues involved which includes giving the family of the deceased individual the final say in the matter.
In Britain around 8,000 people require a transplant, but only 3,000 are carried out leaving 4,000 people every year to die waiting for an organ. Volunteer schemes fall far short of the requirements and only a quarter of the UK populations have signed up to it, especially low in Black and Asia donors even though they are more likely to require organs due to a higher rate of diabetes.
At the moment due to the Human Tissue Act 2004, it’s forbidden to remove the organs or tissue without the consent of the dead person or his/her relatives, which is crazy when you look at how many people are dying from the lack of donors.
While there is still over one person dying every day from the lack of organ donors, this move can only prove positive. It makes sense to put the onus on the donors to opt out rather than in.
