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| Organ donations vetoed by hundreds of bereaved families | Organ donations vetoed by hundreds of bereaved families |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Bereaved families have blocked the donation of organs from 547 UK registered donors since 2010 - about one in seven cases, figures show. | |
| NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) says it will no longer seek the consent of families formally, to make such "overrides" more exceptional. | NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) says it will no longer seek the consent of families formally, to make such "overrides" more exceptional. |
| Instead, they will be given a leaflet explaining consent - or authorisation in Scotland - rests with the deceased. | Instead, they will be given a leaflet explaining consent - or authorisation in Scotland - rests with the deceased. |
| Families can still veto that consent but must provide reasons in writing. | Families can still veto that consent but must provide reasons in writing. |
| NHSBT expects the change to lead to a 9% rise in donors. | NHSBT expects the change to lead to a 9% rise in donors. |
| It said the 547 blocked donors would have provided organs for 1,200 of the 6,578 patients currently waiting for transplants. | It said the 547 blocked donors would have provided organs for 1,200 of the 6,578 patients currently waiting for transplants. |
| Presumed consent | Presumed consent |
| Last month, the system in Wales changed to "presumed consent", under which people are deemed to be potential donors unless they have specifically opted out. | Last month, the system in Wales changed to "presumed consent", under which people are deemed to be potential donors unless they have specifically opted out. |
| NHSBT head Sally Johnson, said: "We are taking a tougher approach - but also a more honest approach. | NHSBT head Sally Johnson, said: "We are taking a tougher approach - but also a more honest approach. |
| "My nurses are speaking for the person who has died. People who join the register want and expect to become organ donors. | "My nurses are speaking for the person who has died. People who join the register want and expect to become organ donors. |
| "We do not want to let them down." | "We do not want to let them down." |
| She added: "We have every sympathy for families - and of course we do not want to make their grief worse. | She added: "We have every sympathy for families - and of course we do not want to make their grief worse. |
| "We think this will make what is a hugely distressing day easier for them, by reducing the burden on them. | "We think this will make what is a hugely distressing day easier for them, by reducing the burden on them. |
| "The principle that the individual affected is the one who consents applies throughout medicine, and it is not different because someone has died." | "The principle that the individual affected is the one who consents applies throughout medicine, and it is not different because someone has died." |
| Specialist nurse James Hardie, from St Mary's Hospital in London, said: "Families sometimes override their relative's wishes because they perhaps did not know that person was on the register. | Specialist nurse James Hardie, from St Mary's Hospital in London, said: "Families sometimes override their relative's wishes because they perhaps did not know that person was on the register. |
| 'Distressing' | 'Distressing' |
| "They find it distressing that they did not know their loved one as well as they thought." | "They find it distressing that they did not know their loved one as well as they thought." |
| But he added: "The consequence of refusal is that people die as a result - that is the unfortunate reality of the situation. | But he added: "The consequence of refusal is that people die as a result - that is the unfortunate reality of the situation. |
| "If somebody refuses the opportunity for their loved one to become an organ donor, somebody potentially goes without a transplant." | "If somebody refuses the opportunity for their loved one to become an organ donor, somebody potentially goes without a transplant." |
| The British Medical Association said families should be strongly encouraged to respect the views of the deceased. | The British Medical Association said families should be strongly encouraged to respect the views of the deceased. |
| But it said that in the small number of cases where they had such strong and sustained opposition it was likely to cause them severe distress, donation might be inappropriate. | But it said that in the small number of cases where they had such strong and sustained opposition it was likely to cause them severe distress, donation might be inappropriate. |