Organ donation should be a presumption says UK's top medical officer

Jul 17 2007

Britain's chief medical officer says anyone who dies should be presumed to have agreed to donate their organs unless they have specifically said otherwise.

The proposal by Sir Liam Donaldson is a response to the growing transplant crisis in the country.

Sir Liam says every day at least one patient dies while on the transplant waiting list of which there are as many as 7,000 people at any one time.

He says there is a shortage of organs in the country and the situation is getting worse.

After Spain introduced an opt-out system for organ donation the number of donations soared and the transplant waiting list has shortened and Sir Liam says those who have reservations or whose faith precludes them from donating their organs would be able to register their wishes.

The proposal has been supported by the British Medical Association, but there has been a mixed reception from other medical bodies with the Patients Association saying it is dangerous to presume patients' wishes at a time when difficult decisions have to be made.

The shortage of organs is most acute for kidneys, where there is a two-year waiting list and has meant some desperate patients travelling overseas to countries where destitute people are willing to sell a kidney.

It is suggested that 70% of the public are reportedly willing to donate, but only 20% are on the donor register and experts feel the public would support the scheme if it was carefully explained to them.

Critics however say the public are not ready for a situation where all people are treated as organ donors unless they opt out and changes to the approach to organ donation needs the support of the majority of the community.