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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Donor 'opt-out' proposal rejected | Donor 'opt-out' proposal rejected |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| A panel of experts has rejected plans to presume everyone consents to being an organ donor unless they opt out. | A panel of experts has rejected plans to presume everyone consents to being an organ donor unless they opt out. |
| The UK Organ Donation Taskforce - a government advisory committee - said there was little evidence presumed consent would increase donation rates. | |
| The prime minister and the chief medical officer are among supporters of a "presumed consent" system. | The prime minister and the chief medical officer are among supporters of a "presumed consent" system. |
| They believe it would tackle the chronic shortage of organs and save thousands of lives. | They believe it would tackle the chronic shortage of organs and save thousands of lives. |
| The UK has one of the lowest organ donation rates in Europe. | |
| There are currently around 8,000 people in the UK who need an organ transplant but only 3,000 operations are carried out each year. | There are currently around 8,000 people in the UK who need an organ transplant but only 3,000 operations are carried out each year. |
| Every year, 1,000 people in the UK die after waiting for a transplant. | Every year, 1,000 people in the UK die after waiting for a transplant. |
| Earlier this year Gordon Brown said a presumed consent system had the potential to close the "aching gap" between the potential benefits of transplant surgery in the UK and the limits imposed by the current system of consent. | Earlier this year Gordon Brown said a presumed consent system had the potential to close the "aching gap" between the potential benefits of transplant surgery in the UK and the limits imposed by the current system of consent. |
| Strong emotions | |
| Elizabeth Buggins, chair of the taskforce, said the issue raised "really strong emotions." | |
| But she said the task force had found little evidend that presumed consent would raise levels of organ donation. | |
| The British Medical Association back the idea of "soft" presumed consent, where family members have the final say - even if the patient has not opted out. Evidence from other countries has shown that a system of presumed consent can improve the shortage of donor organs and can save lives Tony Calland, British Medical Association | The British Medical Association back the idea of "soft" presumed consent, where family members have the final say - even if the patient has not opted out. Evidence from other countries has shown that a system of presumed consent can improve the shortage of donor organs and can save lives Tony Calland, British Medical Association |
| Any change to the system would involve amending the Human Tissue Act of 2004. | Any change to the system would involve amending the Human Tissue Act of 2004. |
| The medical profession is divided on the issue of presumed consent. | The medical profession is divided on the issue of presumed consent. |
| In September, intensive care doctors told the BBC they were deeply concerned about any radical changes to the law on organ donation. | In September, intensive care doctors told the BBC they were deeply concerned about any radical changes to the law on organ donation. |
| Research by the Intensive Care Society suggests many specialists are worried that such a move would damage the trust between patients and doctors. | Research by the Intensive Care Society suggests many specialists are worried that such a move would damage the trust between patients and doctors. |
| A report recommending a radical overhaul of the UK organ donor network in a bid to double the number of organs available for transplant, has already been published by the Organ Donor Taskforce, and is being implemented. | A report recommending a radical overhaul of the UK organ donor network in a bid to double the number of organs available for transplant, has already been published by the Organ Donor Taskforce, and is being implemented. |
| The latest recommendations on presumed consent are not binding and the government could decide to press ahead with changes to the legislation. | The latest recommendations on presumed consent are not binding and the government could decide to press ahead with changes to the legislation. |
| Capacity problems | Capacity problems |
| Health ministers in Scotland and Wales have suggested they are sympathetic to arguments in favour of presumed consent. | Health ministers in Scotland and Wales have suggested they are sympathetic to arguments in favour of presumed consent. |
| Dr Tony Calland, chairman of the BMA's Medical Ethics Committee said: "Evidence from other countries has shown that a system of presumed consent can improve the shortage of donor organs and can save lives. | Dr Tony Calland, chairman of the BMA's Medical Ethics Committee said: "Evidence from other countries has shown that a system of presumed consent can improve the shortage of donor organs and can save lives. |
| "The BMA supports a 'soft' system of presumed consent, where individuals who do not want to donate their organs have a formal mechanism for registering that objection and where families are consulted to identify any unregistered objection." | "The BMA supports a 'soft' system of presumed consent, where individuals who do not want to donate their organs have a formal mechanism for registering that objection and where families are consulted to identify any unregistered objection." |
| Tim Statham of the National Kidney Federation said organs were being wasted because of a lack of capacity in the NHS - a situation which presumed consent would not solve. | Tim Statham of the National Kidney Federation said organs were being wasted because of a lack of capacity in the NHS - a situation which presumed consent would not solve. |
| Joyce Robins, co-director of Patient Concern, said: 'We can only hope that Gordon Brown does not follow the example of the Welsh Health minister Edwina Hart, who rejected the all-party Welsh Assembly report when they decided against presumed consent after weeks of evidence and is still pressing ahead." | Joyce Robins, co-director of Patient Concern, said: 'We can only hope that Gordon Brown does not follow the example of the Welsh Health minister Edwina Hart, who rejected the all-party Welsh Assembly report when they decided against presumed consent after weeks of evidence and is still pressing ahead." |