Everyone should be seen as a potential organ donor on their death unless they expressly request not to be, England's chief medical officer says.
Everyone should be seen as a potential organ donor on their death unless they expressly request not to be, England's chief medical officer says.
Liam Donaldson recommends a new system of "presumed consent" be introduced to tackle chronic shortages of organs.
Liam Donaldson recommends a new system of "presumed consent" be introduced to tackle chronic shortages of organs.
One person dies each day after failing to find a suitable donor, Department of Health figures suggest.
One person dies each day after failing to find a suitable donor, Department of Health figures suggest.
But scrapping a system under which people must clearly state their wish to be a donor will prove controversial.
But scrapping a system under which people must clearly state their wish to be a donor will prove controversial.
Such a move was rejected by MPs when they voted on the Human Tissues Act in 2004.
Such a move was rejected by MPs when they voted on the Human Tissues Act in 2004.
Organ donation is a generous gift, not an obligation Patient Concern
Organ donation is a generous gift, not an obligation Patient Concern
Both the then Health Secretary John Reid and Health Minister Rosie Winterton declared it was not up to parliament to make decisions about what became of peoples' bodies when they died.
Both the then Health Secretary John Reid and Health Minister Rosie Winterton declared it was not up to Parliament to make decisions about what became of people's bodies when they died.
But Mr Donaldson said that efforts to persuade more people to either carry donor cards or sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register had failed - despite the fact that surveys showed that 70% of people want to donate their organs after death.
But Mr Donaldson said that efforts to persuade more people to either carry donor cards or sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register had failed - despite the fact that surveys showed that 70% of people wanted to donate their organs after death.
He added that the gap between the number of people coming onto the waiting list and those coming off after receiving successful transplants was widening all the time.
He added that the gap between the number of people coming onto the waiting list and those coming off after receiving successful transplants was widening all the time.
Both these factors, he hoped, meant "MPs may change their minds".
Both these factors, he hoped, meant "MPs may change their minds".
Transplant campaigners have welcomed the recommendations, although one health lobby group - Patient Concern - declared organ donation "was a generous gift, not an obligation".
Transplant campaigners have welcomed the recommendations, although one health lobby group - Patient Concern - declared organ donation "was a generous gift, not an obligation".
"Surveys may show a large majority willing to donate organs while less than 1 in 4 actually sign up. But giving the 'feel good' answer in the street is very different from facing the reality of the process," said the group's co-director Joyce Robins.
"Surveys may show a large majority willing to donate organs while less than 1 in 4 actually sign up. But giving the 'feelgood' answer in the street is very different from facing the reality of the process," said the group's co-director Joyce Robins.
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