PM story

Gordon Brown is backing plans to make organ donation automatic.

He says the only way you could dodge it is to sign an opt-out clause. He said yesterday “”This could serve to increase donation levels significantly.”

The Prime Minister said he wanted to start a discussion on organ donation guidelines, which would include, a policy of involuntary organ donation. This would allow surgeons to automatically use organs.

But, he stressed, it would have to be agreed to by the family of the dead person. He said “This could serve to increase donation levels significantly.” The PM continued, “A different consent system, more like the one used in Spain, could serve to increase donation levels significantly. Of course any’opt-out’ system would leave the final decision with the family: that is only right and proper.”
“But a system of this kind seems to have the potential to close the aching gap between the potential benefits of transplant surgery in the UK and the limits imposed by our current system of consent. A serious debate -involving the public most of all, but bringing in professional views and those of religious leaders too – is long overdue.” 
However although Mr Brown says he believes everyone should be automatically placed on the organ donor register, there are those who think it should be a choice for the individual. 
There will now be a review of the donation system considering how these changes could help create a “more compassionate Britain” and help save thousands of lives “that might otherwise be lost”.

March 4, 2008. Uncategorized.