U.K. May Make Organ Donations "Opt-Out"

(AP)  Britain's prime minister called Sunday for overhauling the country's organ donation system to make it easier for doctors to remove body parts from deceased patients without prior consent.

Gordon Brown noted in an opinion piece that more than a thousand people die in Britain each year waiting for organ transplants.

Switching to a Spanish-style "opt-out" system - in which consent is presumed - could save thousands of lives, he wrote in The Sunday Telegraph newspaper.

"A system of this kind seems to have the potential to close the aching gap between the potential benefits of transplant surgery and the limits imposed by our current system of consent," Brown said.

Under current British law, organs may be removed only from patients who make their consent known - for example, by carrying an organ donor card - or with the consent of a family member if intent was not specified.

An "opt-out" system would presume consent unless potential donors explicitly registered their disapproval. That would make it easier for doctors to approach families with requests for donations, said Tony Calland, chairman of the British Medical Association's medical ethics committee.

"It changes the awareness of people about organ donation and transplantation in general," he said.

In Spain, the rate of organ donation is now more than 2.5 times higher than in Britain. More than 7,500 people are waiting for organs in Britain.

"In Spain, where they made this change, there has been a considerable increase in the number of organs available," Calland said.

Patients' rights groups were skeptical.

"We don't think a private decision, which is a matter of individual conscience, should be taken by the state," said Katherine Murphy, a spokeswoman for Britain's Patients Association.

"If people want to give the gift of life, that is their right. But it must be something that is a voluntary matter," she said.

UK Transplant, the agency that manages Britain's transplant infrastructure, said it welcomed debate. But it noted that Sweden, which also uses an opt-out system, still has organ donation levels as low as Britain.

[rf35]

It''s no more difficult that opting out of receiving spam e-mail from various web sites. I think this idea should go forward in the U.K. and the U.S.A. If you are really against donating your organs, then you will make the time to opt out. For many, opting in is just one more thing they need to jump through hoops to do and even if they have no problem donating organs, they don''t want to be bothered with all the extra hassle. Of course, since the world is overpopulated as it is, maybe it''s just as well.

[missingamerica]

I want a series of checkboxes on my organ donor card that would allow me to dictate that my organs would not be given to anybody who makes more than $200,000 a year.

I''d like to ensure that a little "democracy" remained in the process.

[dragonmouse-2009]

Sounds like an AWESOME idea to me. What are you going to do with your organs after you pass? It''s not like you''re going to use them anymore why not benefit someone elses life. If you really have objections for whatever reason it should be YOU who does the paperwork. Too many people just plain don''t think about it or care. Many others have that "nothing will happen to me" vison so they just don''t bother to do anything.

[jennmarie620]

Organ donation is a topic that I have contemplated for over 13 years (half of my life) - & I am no closer to knowing if I want my organs donated upon my death or not. I have known people who have benefited from organ transplants, & people who have died waiting for them %u2013 & while I agree that donating your organs can save many lives & is a truly selfless act, it%u2019s not as easy as some people may think it is.

Just because it%u2019s a very simple decision for one person, does not mean that it%u2019s a simple decision for another. There are personal issues that must be taken into account when this decision is made, as well as religious issues. Some religions do not allow anything to be done to the body upon death, because it is seen as an act of desecration - including autopsies. Other religions or paths of faith believe that the body is not solely a vessel for the soul, but that burial of the body allows that person to become one with the earth & nature, & to continue a cycle of life. To remove organs from the body can hinder that transcendence.

For anyone to say that someone is selfish for not giving permission to remove their organs is extremely judgmental & ignorant. No one knows why another person won%u2019t give permission %u2013 & it is not anyone else%u2019s decision to make, either. This is my body, what I choose to do with it is my will %u2013 just as what you choose to do with your body is your will. No one should EVER be made to feel guilty or judged for that.

[farmerbb]

blockquote "We don''t think a private decision, which is a matter of individual conscience, should be taken by the state," said Katherine Murphy, a spokeswoman for Britain''s Patients Association. /blockquote
I think the issue is that not ENOUGH people have marked their driving licenses for donation. If you DON''T want to be a donor after death, just tick the box. I am in favor, so I did. I like the reverse idea better. Although why anyone would refuse to help another, after they themselves no longer need whatever organ is in question, I can''t imagine. How selfish. It would be like burning your money in your will, so no one could get any use out of it.

[itgranny]

In Minnesota, it''s on your driver''s license, but you still need a living will for it to become lawful. The lawyers are making out quite well with the law.
There''s no one that benefits from rape, use your head.

[magoo2u1]

PS Most states record your consent as an organ donor on your driver''s license.

[magoo2u1]

I agree. Why don''t we start assuming consent in every area not specifically denied by the indivudual.
If you don''t opt out on a s e x clause then you can''t be r a p e d. Without a signed document in your pocket you consent to everything. I think it''s a great idea.

[itgranny]

I think it''s a great idea. Much better than the current system in the US where somebody winds up dying because somebody else didn''t have the time or money to get a living will drawn up. In my state, even having it on your driver''s license doesn''t give them permission to take organs without family permission or a living will. (There must have been a bunch of lawyers in our state gov. when that rule was made up!)

If keeping your kidneys after you''re dead means that much to you, then you''ll make sure to have the legal paperwork done.