Today marks one year since the Organ Donation (Deemed Consent) Act came into force in England. The law means that all adults, with some exceptions, will be considered organ donors unless they choose to opt-out. As a result of this change 296 people donated 714 organs for transplantation which wouldn’t previously have been donated. This comprised nearly a third of all organ donors. The figures would have been higher still, had the Covid-19 pandemic not led to the cancellation or delay of many transplant operations.
Building on this success, a Bill to introduce opt-out donation on the Isle of Man has passed all stages in the Tynwald and is awaiting royal assent. It is hoped that it will come into force this summer. A similar law in Guernsey is also awaiting royal assent. Once both are in force, all parts of the United Kingdom and crown dependencies will operate an opt-out system – except for Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Department of Health is currently proposing the change as well.
Humanists UK was a driving force behind the move to opt-out systems in England and Wales. Its sister charity Humanist Society Scotland backed similar proposals in Scotland. Humanists UK was part of NHS England’s advisory group on the new law. It also gave oral evidence to the Senedd inquiry that led to the change in Wales. And it responded to consultations in the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. It also responded to the Northern Ireland consultation.
Humanists UK’s Director of Public Affairs and Policy Richy Thompson commented, ‘We are delighted with the success of the opt-out system in England. Behind each of those 296 people is a story of compassion for the suffering of others even in one’s own grief. Behind those 714 organs donated is a life potentially saved and suffering reduced.
‘Humanists do not believe that respect for the dead constitutes a reason to object to allowing a deceased person’s organs being used to help others, except when the deceased has expressed a contrary wish. So we will continue to campaign for a similar law to be introduced in Northern Ireland.’
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For further comment or information, please contact Humanists UK Director of Public Affairs and Policy Richy Thompson at press@humanists.uk or phone 020 7324 3072 or 020 3675 0959.
Read more about the success of England’s opt-out system.
Find out more about organ donation, including how you can make sure your organs are donated.
Read more about our campaign work on organ donation.
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