Is it time for presumed consent
for organ donation?
As the current system is unable to meet the increasing demands of organ transplantation, the Prime Minister calls for a national debate on whether to change the system of organ donation.
The new presumed consent system is also commonly known as “opt out” system, which would mean that people would be presumed to be a donor unless they sign up to reject it or their family is strongly against it.
-8,000 people on the waiting list -rises about 11% a year -more than 1,000 people died while on the waiting list every year -35% of those approached refuse to allow donation Source:UK Transplant |
The recommendation was suggested by the Organ Donation
Taskforce in January, which was set up by the government in 2006.
Gordon Brown has backed the suggestion to introduce the new system, but many people doubt whether presumed consent is acceptable in the UK .
The debate is going on among MPs, medicical experts, organisers and many UK residents.
Listen here to find out why we should support presumed consent:
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And why we should keep current system:
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What else can be done?
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According to British Medical Association, presumed consent countries have roughly 25-30% higher donation rates than informed consent countries.
On the other hand, many concerns are also being taken into account by the people who strongly against the “opt out” system. Such as the grim lesson of Alder Hey hospital in Liverpool has loomed large in this latest discussion.
From 1988 to 1996, babies' organs in the hospital were retained without permission.
The discussion will keep on until this summer, and a report on the issue of presumed consent will be released by the organ donation taskforce and will decide whether the system will be implemented.
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Is it time for presumed consent
for organ donation?
Listen here to find out why we should support presumed consent:
And why we should keep current system:
What else can be done?
|
According to British Medical Association, presumed consent countries have roughly 25-30% higher donation rates than informed consent countries.
On the other hand, many concerns are also being taken into account by the people who strongly against the “opt out” system. Such as the grim lesson of Alder Hey hospital in Liverpool has loomed large in this latest discussion.
From 1988 to 1996, babies' organs in the hospital were retained without permission.
The discussion will keep on until this summer, and a report on the issue of presumed consent will be released by the organ donation taskforce and will decide whether the system will be implemented.