Humanists want to help people enjoy and make the most of the one life we have. Humanists don’t believe in an afterlife, and see the only meaning of life as the meaning we make for ourselves, and it’s for this reason we try to promote happiness and strive to make a better world in the here and now. From this point of view, organ donation can be seen as a beautiful way to help others even after you’ve died. It is one last, final act of charity.
In order to save as many lives as possible, we campaigned for the UK to a move to an ‘opt-out’ organ donor register; this reflects the reality that most people are happy to donate their organs after they die but never get around to registering. It allows for people to still opt out, including for religious reasons. Additionally, many people decide to become living organ donors. As of 2023, the opt-out organ donation system that humanists campaigned for is now in effect across the UK and crown dependencies. This happened first in Wales (in 2015), and was swiftly followed by Jersey (2019), England (2020), Scotland (2021), Guernsey (2020), the Isle of Man (2021), and finally Northern Ireland (2023).
We’ve provided some helpful links below, including ways of promoting awareness of organ donation laws. Life is a gift, so please – pass it on.
More about organ donation
The new law in detail
We’ve prepared a helpful explainer for just what the new system means for you.
Get informed.
How did we get here?
See how Humanists UK helped to secure an opt-out organ donation policy across the UK.
See the history.
Humanist organ donor cards
Download a digital donor card, paper print-out, or smartphone wallpaper direct from the NHS.
Show your support.
You’re in control – update or amend your donor record
Register a decision
Make an active choice to be an organ donor (or not), or amend or withdraw your previous decision.
Other kinds of donations
Visit the NHS Blood and Transplant website.