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Backlash for 'presumed consent' organ transplant
Proposals for organ donation to become an 'opt-out' decision for people in the UK have triggered a backlash by patient groups.
Levels of organ donation in the UK are lower than in most other Western European nations. Writing in the Sunday Telegraph yesterday, the prime minister, Gordon Brown, said that a system of 'presumed consent' would help the thousands of people waiting for organ donations.
'A different consent system, more like the one used in Spain, could serve to increase donation levels significantly,' he wrote. 'Of course, any 'opt-out' system would – in cases where the potential donor is not on the register – leave the final decision with the family: that is only right and proper.'
However, the move has been strongly criticised. Joyce Robins, co-director of campaign group Patient Concern, said that the prime minister was threatening to throw the principles of informed consent 'out of the window'.
'We have put far too little effort into informing people fully about organ donation and far too little money into creating the right infrastructure,' she said.
'If we want three times as many organs for transplant, like Spain, then we need three times the number of ICU beds, three times the transplant surgeons and above all three times the transplant co-ordinators. Without that we would be unable to take advantage of a large rise in available organs anyway.'
Today, the Telegraph reports that the Right Reverend Tom Butler, the Bishop of Southwark, has also spoken out. 'My personal position is that before we go in for the 'opt out' position let us make great effort to bring to the public's attention the great need to donate,' he said.
People wishing to join the register of donors can sign up at UK Transplant.
Category: Healthcare
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