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Organ donor challenge over-ruled at BMA conference | |
(about 6 hours later) | |
By Nick Triggle Health correspondent, BBC News, in Cardiff | |
Doctors have reiterated their support for overhauling the organ donation system. | |
The British Medical Association has been campaigning for presumed consent - where all people are assumed to be willing to donate organs unless they opt out - since 1999. | |
But some medics at the union's annual conference challenged the stance on grounds it could damage patient trust. | |
Delegates rejected the challenge, arguing it would save lives. | |
No part of the UK has introduced a system of presumed consent yet, although Wales has said it intends to. | |
Those in favour believe it would help boost UK donation rates, which, despite recent improvements, still lag behind many other countries. | |
More than 3,700 donations took place last year - a 5% rise on the previous year - but there are still about 8,000 people on the waiting list. | |
Over the last three years, the NHS has invested in specialist nurses and transplant co-ordinators to identify potential donors and allow for approaches to families when death becomes likely. | Over the last three years, the NHS has invested in specialist nurses and transplant co-ordinators to identify potential donors and allow for approaches to families when death becomes likely. |
Dr Sharon Blackford, a dermatologist from Swansea, who proposed the motion challenging the BMA's support for presumed consent, said: "If we move to presumed consent in could damage trust in doctors. If someone is ill in intensive care, families may feel doctors just want to harvest the organs. | |
"It also goes against the whole idea of the moment - putting patients in charge. People may start thinking about it differently and it could turn people off." | "It also goes against the whole idea of the moment - putting patients in charge. People may start thinking about it differently and it could turn people off." |
Dr Blackford cited the experience of Spain, where organ donation hardly changed following the introduction of presumed consent in 1979. | |
But others argued presumed consent would be beneficial. | |
Laura Turkenburg, a medical student from Durham, cited research which showed three people a day die waiting for an organ transplant. | |
"We have a significant problem in this country. That means the system has to change." | |
Former Lib Dem MP Dr Evan Harris, who originally proposed the motion in favour of presumed consent 12 years ago, said: "It [presumed consent] does work. It saves lives." | |
Under the BMA's suggestion - dubbed soft presumed consent - families would still be able to object to organ donation even if their relative had not opted out. | |
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