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| Donor 'opt-out' proposal rejected | Donor 'opt-out' proposal rejected |
| (9 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 the move would increase availability of organs. | The UK Organ Donation Taskforce - a government advisory committee - said there was little evidence the move would increase availability of organs. |
| For now England is to launch a £4.5m public awareness campaign aimed at boosting donor numbers. | For now England is to launch a £4.5m public awareness campaign aimed at boosting donor numbers. |
| But the prime minister supports the "presumed consent" system, and has not ruled out a change to the law. | But the prime minister supports the "presumed consent" system, and has not ruled out a change to the law. |
| We found from recipient families and donor families that the concept of gift was very important to them and presumed consent would undermine that concept Elizabeth BugginsUK Organ Donation Taskforce | We found from recipient families and donor families that the concept of gift was very important to them and presumed consent would undermine that concept Elizabeth BugginsUK Organ Donation Taskforce |
| The UK has one of the lowest organ donation rates in Europe. | 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. |
| Health Secretary Alan Johnson said £4.5m would be spent on a public education campaign aimed at signing up 20 million people to the organ donor register by 2010, and 25 million by 2013. | Health Secretary Alan Johnson said £4.5m would be spent on a public education campaign aimed at signing up 20 million people to the organ donor register by 2010, and 25 million by 2013. |
| A similar campaign has already has some success in Scotland. | A similar campaign has already has some success in Scotland. |
| However, Mr Johnson said that if the awareness campaign failed to produce results, the subject would have to be re-visited. | However, Mr Johnson said that if the awareness campaign failed to produce results, the subject would have to be re-visited. |
| Strong emotions | Strong emotions |
| Elizabeth Buggins, chair of the taskforce, said the issue raised "really strong emotions." | Elizabeth Buggins, chair of the taskforce, said the issue raised "really strong emotions." |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| But she said the task force, which had gathered over 400 pages of evidence from across the world, had found little evidence that presumed consent would increase the number of organs available for transplant. | But she said the task force, which had gathered over 400 pages of evidence from across the world, had found little evidence that presumed consent would increase the number of organs available for transplant. |
| She said although a system of presumed consent in Spain had been followed by a rise in organ donation, that rise was not thought to be down to the switch. | She said although a system of presumed consent in Spain had been followed by a rise in organ donation, that rise was not thought to be down to the switch. |
| Ms Buggins said: "We found from recipient families and donor families that the concept of gift was very important to them and presumed consent would undermine that concept. | Ms Buggins said: "We found from recipient families and donor families that the concept of gift was very important to them and presumed consent would undermine that concept. |
| "We also found that it has the potential to erode trust in doctors, and we know that is very important to the levels of donation." | "We also found that it has the potential to erode trust in doctors, and we know that is very important to the levels of donation." |
| Instead, Ms Buggins said a rise in organ donations was more likely to be achieved by increasing in the number of donor coordinators who work with bereaved families, and the number of specialists who retrieve organs, and by launching public information campaigns. | Instead, Ms Buggins said a rise in organ donations was more likely to be achieved by increasing in the number of donor coordinators who work with bereaved families, and the number of specialists who retrieve organs, and by launching public information campaigns. |
| "There is lots of fear out there that organs are taken from patients before they are dead - that is absolutely not true." | "There is lots of fear out there that organs are taken from patients before they are dead - that is absolutely not true." |
| Medical split | Medical split |
| 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. |
| We know that the majority of the population want to be organ donors, but only 25% are on the register Dr Vivienne NathansonBritish Medical Association | |
| 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. |
| But Dr Vivienne Nathanson, chair of ethics at the British Medical Association, said she was disappointed by the task force's findings. | |
| She said presumed consent was not a panacea, but was likely to result in a 10-15% increase in donated organs - if sufficient surgeons, intensive care beds and transplant coordinators were put in place. | She said presumed consent was not a panacea, but was likely to result in a 10-15% increase in donated organs - if sufficient surgeons, intensive care beds and transplant coordinators were put in place. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| She said it would also encourage families to discuss their views, and make their position clear. | She said it would also encourage families to discuss their views, and make their position clear. |
| 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. |
| Dr Nathanson said: "We know that the majority of the population want to be organ donors, but only 25% are on the register. | Dr Nathanson said: "We know that the majority of the population want to be organ donors, but only 25% are on the register. |
| "Turning it round the other way, so that you take organs from everyone unless they have either put their name on a register to opt out, or their family say they wanted to, but haven't got round to it, means you could quite significantly increase the numbers of donors." | "Turning it round the other way, so that you take organs from everyone unless they have either put their name on a register to opt out, or their family say they wanted to, but haven't got round to it, means you could quite significantly increase the numbers of donors." |
| Lack of capacity | Lack of capacity |
| But 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. | But 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. |
| And Professor John Fabre, a former president of the British Transplantation Society, said presumed consent was a "simplistic" way to try to boost organ donation rates, which would be a "waste of time". | And Professor John Fabre, a former president of the British Transplantation Society, said presumed consent was a "simplistic" way to try to boost organ donation rates, which would be a "waste of time". |
| 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." |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |