Healthy living
Body matters
An automatic 'yes' to organ donation?
Many more lives could be saved by a new approach to becoming organ donors
This would involve switching from the opt-in system currently in place, where people register with the Organ Donor Register, to the opt-out system, where individuals would, instead, register that they did not want their organs to be used. This system is already in operation in a number of other countries, including Austria, Belgium and Spain.
Sir Liam Donaldson, Chief Medical Officer, has called for a reversal in the way we approach organ donation. In his annual report he recommends that we switch to a system of presumed consent, meaning that when people die, their organs would be available for transplant, unless they had specifically stated that they did not want this to happen.
UK Transplant, the NHS organisation that matches and allocates donor organs, carried out research recently that found that although 84% of respondents were in favour of organ donation, only 32% had joined the register. Just over a third of those in favour said they hadn’t got round to it, 13% thought they might want to change their minds in the future (you can remove yourself from the register whenever you like), and 8% thought they were too old.
"There is a desperate shortage of organ donors in the UK and without a doubt, any debate that encourages people to consider their own wishes for donation is very welcome" says UK Transplant spokesman Dominic Moody
"But what’s really important is that we make those wishes known by talking to our families and joining the NHS Organ Donor Register. By doing this we help ensure our wishes will be fulfilled, as well as sparing our loved ones the difficulty of making a decision on our behalf at a very difficult time.
"At present about four in 10 families of potential donors refuse consent and very often it’s simply because they’d never discussed donation and didn’t know what their loved one wanted. In these circumstances families are much more likely to say no, which is a great pity if the individual had wanted to donate.
"It’s also a tragedy for the thousands of people currently waiting for a lifesaving transplant, because just one organ donor can save up to eight lives and improve dozens of others through tissue donation."
How to register
Carrying an Organ Donor Card is a clear sign of your intentions to be an organ donor; however, cards can be lost. For a more permanent record of your wish to donate your organs after your death, join the NHS Organ Donor Register by calling the NHS Organ Donor Line, 0845 60 60 400 at any time. Or you can register online.
"It’s important to talk to your family when you register to be an organ donor. This gives them the chance to discuss your decision and saves them from having to come to terms with the idea of donating your organs at an emotional time," says Dominic Moody.
"How a transplant changed my life"
Ben Shing, 66 and an Assistant Lecturer at Cardiff University, had a liver transplant in April, after three years of treatment for a tumour on his liver. He lives in Newport with his wife Jane, and they have two adult daughters.
"In 2004 CT and MRI scans showed that I had a tumour on my liver. I was treated with drugs to start with, but then the tumour started to grow. In October last year I spent a week in hospital being assessed. My surgeon and consultant explained the situation to me, that I could go on the waiting list for a donor liver, and that it would be better to have the operation sooner rather than later.
"I got the phone call to say there was a liver available for me and went in for the five-hour operation on April 29th. Eight days later I was discharged from hospital. Even the surgeons were surprised at how swift my recovery was.
"Before the operation I was tired, always wanting to sleep, bloated and couldn’t do very much. I was losing weight, too. Since the operation I feel like a new man, I feel I have a new lease of life. I drive and do the gardening and go shopping. I’m probably going back to the university to do more tutorials and will do some more work with the Open University. I feel very optimistic.
"I’m in favour of the opt-out system. People seem to think organ donation is a good thing, but there’s a big discrepancy between those who are in favour and those who sign up. I know other countries already have this system, and I think Britain should follow suit. If it can save lives we should do it."
Transplant Facts
- You are more likely to need a transplant than to become a donor
- One donor can donate a heart, lungs, two kidneys, pancreas, liver and small bowel, and two corneas
- Donors can also give bone and tissue, including heart valves, skin and tendons
- There are over 14.4 million people on the NHS Organ Donor Register
- More than 9,000 people in the UK need a transplant that could save or greatly improve their life
- Last year more than 400 people died while waiting for a transplant
Useful website
Reader comments
I donot wish to be an organ donor unless the organs will be donated to my immediate family and I would like to register to make this know. I do not wish my organs to be taken without my consent or my husband & son's consent. How do I go about making this known to the public, do I need to bring a card with me. Cherise
Posted by: Cherise | 17/04/2008 13:24:20
My sister recently died and she opted to be an organ donor on her license. Our family wanted to honor her wishes, but I tell you, it is a process in which will be devastating on the family. The process is very long after your loved ones death. She took her last breathe at 6:00pm and they finally took her off the ventilator at 5:30am. You need to talk to your family and let them know how much of you, you want to donate. They took her hip and leg bones which I thought was too much! You want to have a body to bury!
Posted by: Debbie Lowrey | 10/03/2008 17:24:09
Opt-out. I have a donor card, but when I die my body belongs to my family. If they say no, then organ donation will not take place. It is easy to carry a card to opt out - I want to donate any part of my body, when I'm dead I won't need my organs. I read Edgar Allen Poe - his story about the premature burial gave me nightmares. If my organs are taken, then I am truly dead. No more nightmares.
Posted by: Teri Gleeson | 07/08/2007 16:42:32
I have carried a donor card for over 40 years, but if they took orans without consent then I would withdraw my consent. I believe people have a choice and that choice should not be made for them just because they don't carry a card. How many people would have organs removed to save someone, whoes lives could have been saved themselves, perhaps I am cynical, but I believe we live in an age when there is very little trust. Sad isn't it? Margaret anderson.
Posted by: Margaret Anderson | 03/08/2007 09:31:54
I have carried a donor card for many years but occasionally I doubt the principle here. How many times do we hear of a person being diagnosed as 'brain dead' only to find that when the life support system has been turned off they continue to live and often recover. I am concerned that organ transplant may in time take priority over helping the potential donor to survive.
Posted by: Stella Redfern | 31/07/2007 22:36:27
Surely we give enough to the government without them taking body and soul. The system should remain opt-in without doubt. An opt-out system is open to abuse both from those willing to pay for organs and from the less scrupulous medical professionals, who may be less inclined to save a life they consider unworthy when they could use their organs to save more deserving cases. It has been obvious in recent years of organ and foetus retentions that some medical personnel have no qualms about taking what they want, regardless of family wishes, and they should not be given further opportunity to play God.
Posted by: Sue Bennett | 30/07/2007 18:16:44
being on the donar register myself i would be fully in favour of the proposal. this is one way to pay back to society for the wonderful gift of life we have had.
Posted by: tom alston | 30/07/2007 09:53:40
I agree with Liam Donaldson that organ donation should be opt-out rather than opt-in. That's not pressuring anyone, because the opt-out exists; but it avoids uncertainty, and missing out on donation because there is often not much time after a death to establish the situation about consent.
Posted by: Anne Jennings | 29/07/2007 16:49:07
I have had a dona card since I was a child. My Mother did not agree with it, but I insisted. I do not see why healthy organs should be destroyed at death when they could help other people to live or enjoy a better lifestyle.
Posted by: Mrs Rosemary A. Rees | 29/07/2007 12:05:22
I agree with the opt-out method for organ donation. I believe that people with strong feelings on the subject will make the effort to opt out far more than those or bother to opt in. A lot of people say "they can have anything they want once I'm gone, I shan't need it" but don't actually add their names to the register. Another point is that even names on the register can be challenged by living relatives. So I believe everyone should be "in" unless they register to opt-out.
Posted by: Jacqui Booth | 29/07/2007 12:01:34
I have mixed feelings about the organ donation situation mainly because one doesn't have a right to make certain conditions. E.g. I would hate my liver to be given to an alcoholic as happened with George Best. That liver could have gone to someone who would respect that a life was lost to make it possible. At age 68 it is unlikely that my organs would be of much use to anyone, but I do think about the pros and cons a lot. I also resent the fact that apparently many ethnic minority groups don't give organs, but expect to receive them and that is another thing which puts me off. That sounds racist, but it isn't. I certainly don't agree with the government having the right to take organs without permission. The body is the temple of the soul, but if we are resurrected at the end of the world I wonder what happens if we have given away our eyes, hearts, etc. Just a few thoughts.
Posted by: Diana Donald | 29/07/2007 10:17:27
I think that people in general want to stop telling everyone else what they think is good for them. What has happen to freedom of speach in this world. if people are told that they must donate organs which belong to them and they do not want to, if they want to opt out then they are made to feel bad in every sense. STOP PLAYING GOD.
Posted by: J | 28/07/2007 20:56:17
I have disgust my views with my son and I know his wishes and he knows mine. I do think you should be allowed to opt in and have your preferences granted.
Posted by: Patricia Durrant | 28/07/2007 13:46:03
There is no question that organ donation should be "opt out" instead of opt in". This would catch the people in favour who have "not got round to registering yet", and those whose relations do not know the wishes of the deceased. There is no rational reason why a person should refuse or be too lazy to save another person's life, which is what is effectivly what is happening at present It is imperative that the system is changed as soon as possible to help those who are in need.
Posted by: Anthony Foster | 28/07/2007 11:21:08
Are we all so selfish in this country that we wish to take something we no longer need with us when we've passed on. What greater memorial to one's life is there than to give the gift of life to someone else. I have been saying for many years that organs should be available on death unless that person has opted out-I don't think many actually would, they're too busy with other things. Yes! you've guessed I've been on the organ donor list for decades.
Posted by: Veronica Evans | 27/07/2007 22:38:21
It should be on an opt-out basis no question
Posted by: roger hull | 27/07/2007 22:11:52
I would like to know how fool proof the system would be for opting out, knowing that most organs need to be removed within hours of death how long would it take to find out if the dead person had opted out, I for instance have donated my body for medical research and would not want my organs removed as my body would no longer be accepted if this happened.
Posted by: Linda Perry | 27/07/2007 21:31:38
opt-out definitely. Proven beyond doubt in other countries.
Posted by: mary Tomlinson | 27/07/2007 21:04:33
OPT IN NOW!!!!! It's never going to hurt YOU but might stop someone else hurting!! Many people say things like "When I go I want to be buried 'intact'". Why? What are they going to do with their organs once they are dead? Personally I think such an attitude shows enormous selfishness and total contempt for other human beings, some of whom may desperately need transplants through no fault of their own. You won't need them when you've gone, so give someone else the possibility of the gift of an improvement in their life. Unfortunately there have been a thoughtless few who have given the process a bad name by receiving transplants and then totally wasting them by retaining the lifestyle that put them in the position of needing a transplant in the first place! A certain well known footballer springs to mind! Fortunately they have been the very few exceptions to the fact that in general an organ transplant makes big improvements in the quality of life, or even stops someone dieing prematurely.
Posted by: John Collard | 27/07/2007 20:35:36
YES to an automatic opt-in.
Posted by: Allan White | 27/07/2007 20:21:01
I think everyone should be on the list to donate organs on death. If anyone really objects to this then they must make an effort to have their name taken off the register. Given the apathy amongst us the numbers of organs will go up significantly as most won't be bothered to take our names off !! After all we won't know much about it if we are dead - will we?
Posted by: Jennifer | 27/07/2007 19:38:49
I can't see that it matters tuppence whether your loved one's body contains all its organs or not.
Posted by: D Hawkins | 27/07/2007 19:23:50
I have carried a donor card since they first became available & joined the organ donor register when it started. I think if everyone was opted in & you had to choose to opt, out it would be the best solution for everyone!
Posted by: Lesley De'Ath | 27/07/2007 17:47:05
I believe that an individual should have to register that he/she is unwilling to donate organs. It works in Spain
Posted by: sheila Betts | 27/07/2007 16:38:53
I am very much in favour of the opt out system.I also think that if a person has recorded their wish to donate their organs, it is not up to the relatives to veto their decision.
Posted by: brenda hall | 27/07/2007 16:37:22
Organ donation should stay voluntary. If this becomes the norm to opt out, then the government has yet another control of us and how long will it be before the donations will become big money for the person who can pay the highest premium. The powers that be must find another way to encourage people to donate.
Posted by: M Smith | 27/07/2007 16:04:28
We feel opting OUT is preferable, thus enabling far more lives to be saved
Posted by: Alan & Christine Dunningham | 27/07/2007 15:04:33
I am totally in favour of the "opt-out" system. I have carried a donor card for many years and am now registered centrally via my Boots "points card". But what can I do about my children - all born in 50's and 60's? They have grown up knowing about my organ commitment, that I gave blood until stopped after jaundice and that a proportion of the fee I get for giving talks goes to a local charity. I do not continually remind them of these and they remain totally unconcerned about committing themselves. They are nice children and I have no complaints about them otherwise; however, I do get (silently) annoyed that they do not have a sense of public commitment. Are they the "me" generation? And should I begin to nag them?
Posted by: Audrey Griffiths | 27/07/2007 14:55:08
The suggestion that our bodies are now owned by the government's medical profession and can be used after death unless we carry a card opposing this just beggars belief. Christians acknowledge that we are born with a mind and body to take care of as we choose for as much time as God has deemed will be, and no-one has any right to gainsay this. Why should we now have to carry a card which may or may not stay with us when we actually die to say how we wish our body to be treated? That a doctor can suggest this only indicates just how far down this line they have travelled when performing autopsies and retaining parts for their own interest, and have blurred the line between what is theirs and our own. After the American case where parts of bodies like bone and tissue were taken from corpses that had died of cancer, and were then put into people who thought they were being given a prolonged life, one would have thought that desecration of bodies would have been stopped forever. I sincerely hope this idea will be obliterated immediately.
Posted by: Roz Venner | 27/07/2007 14:30:30
Information on this site is for interest only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should consult your own doctor about any specific health concerns.