Today, the Organ Donation (Deemed Consent) Bill passed its final stage in the House of Commons with support from all sides of the House. The Bill will introduce an opt-out register for organ donors in England, similar to the one in place in Wales since 2015. Humanists UK, which has called for the implementation of this system for many years now, has welcomed this outcome and hopes that the Bill will pass swiftly through the House of Lords.
The Bill was introduced to Parliament as a Private Member’s Bill by Labour MP Geoffrey Robinson earlier this year. At its second reading in February, the Government confirmed that it would be supporting the Bill, meaning that it is highly likely to be passed by Parliament.
England currently operates an opt-in system, in which prospective organ donors must sign up to an organ register. However, it is often the case that many people who may be happy to donate their organs after death either do not sign up for the register or do not discuss the matter with relatives or friends, and so medical professionals are not aware that they wished to consent. The Government recently estimated that although 82% of people state their intent to donate, only 37% actually have signed the register.
Earlier this year, Humanists UK met with with civil servants leading on organ donation at the Department of Health and Social Care to discuss the ethical and practical implications of introducing an opt-out system in England. Humanists UK also submitted a detailed response to the consultation held by Department of Health and Social on this issue in February, in conjunction with the Richard Norman, Professor Emeritus of Moral Philosophy at the University of Kent.
The passage of this Bill follows announcements in Scotland, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man of plans to introduce opt-out organ donation systems, and the passing of similar legislation in Jersey.
Humanists UK Campaigns Officer Rachel Taggart-Ryan commented, ‘We are delighted that MPs on all sides of the House of Commons have backed this Bill, and that no member spoke in opposition to its passing. We hope now that the House of Lords will also offer its full support to introducing an opt-out system, which we hope will be in operation by early 2020.
‘The evidence strongly suggests that this move improves willingness to donate both from individuals and their families, cuts transplant waiting times, and better reflects the will of the majority of people who wish to donate. Most importantly it will reduce the suffering and save the lives of those in need of a transplant.’
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For further comment or information, please contact Humanists UK Campaigns Officer Rachel Taggart-Ryan on rachel@humanists.uk or 07951 176 245.
You can join the Organ Donor Register and help save lives after your death at https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/
Read Humanists UK’s response to the Government Consultation: https://humanists.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018-01-08-RTR-Organ-donation-consultation.pdf
Read more about our campaigns work on organ donation: https://humanists.uk/campaigns/public-ethical-issues/organ-donation/
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