BMA backs 'opt-out' organ donation (From Gazette)

BMA backs 'opt-out' organ donation

8:23am Monday 13th February 2012 in National News © Press Association 2011

The way in which organs are donated and who donates them should be examined in a bid to improve donation rates and ultimately save lives, according to the British Medical Association (BMA).

The BMA says in a briefing paper that it believes that the introduction of an "opt-out" or presumed consent system for organ donation, with appropriate safeguards, would transform people's lives.

According to reports, the BMA briefing was examining the changes to the organ donation system that have taken place since the publication of the last major investigation by the Government-appointed Organ Donation Taskforce in January 2008.

Donation rates have improved by around 27% in the last four years, according to Tim Statham, chief executive of the National Kidney Federation, who last month warned that the Government will miss the 50% target set for 2013.

Following the criticism, Public Health Minister Anne Milton said the Government was on target to achieve a 35% increase in donor rates by March this year.

Reports say that in the briefing, the BMA points out that, even if that target is met, people on transplant waiting lists will still be dying because of an organ shortage.

Dr Vivienne Nathanson, one of the authors of the report, told the BBC that people must now decide whether they want to put up with the current situation or make efforts to change the system.

Dr Paul Murphy, a consultant in intensive care and clinical lead for organ donation at NHS Blood and Transplant, welcomed the report.

He told the BBC: "Any initiative that encourages people to think and talk about the importance of organ donation helps to change attitudes and ensures that donation is seen as a routine part of end-of-life care in the UK.

"We are optimistic that we will achieve the taskforce's predicted 50% increase by 2013 but acknowledge that this will be tough and all parts of the donation process will need to work to their full potential for us to deliver this goal."