'Support' for organ donor opt-out

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Public support is growing in Scotland for a radical change to organ donation, according to doctors' leaders.

A British Medical Association survey suggested three-quarters of people in Scotland favoured presumed consent.

This means organs are automatically taken unless individuals specifically opt-out of the system before they die.

A recent law change in Scotland means signing the organ donor register counts as consent, but in reality the NHS rarely goes against relatives' wishes.

There are currently about 800 people in Scotland waiting for a donor organ, with numbers increasing annually. Many die without receiving a transplant.

The poll of 200 people north of the border showed a 10% rise in support for presumed consent since the last BMA survey on the issue in 2004.

There will always be a choice and people who do not wish to donate will be free to opt out Dr Peter TerryBMA in Scotland

The latest poll revealed that 69% of respondents said they would be willing to donate their organs for transplantation, but only a quarter had actually signed the organ donor register.

Dr Peter Terry, the chairman of the BMA in Scotland, said: "A system of presumed consent would address the apathy that exists towards signing up to the NHS organ donor register.

"Presumed consent would mean that the views of the majority become a reality.

"There will always be a choice and people who do not wish to donate will be free to opt out."

The BMA called for a wider public debate on the issue.

Last month, UK Health Secretary Alan Johnson asked advisers to consider whether a presumed consent system should be introduced south of the border.

George Foulkes has called for a new system of consent in Scotland

The move was recommended by England's chief medical officer to tackle the chronic shortage of organs.

However, Scotland's chief medical officer rejected the idea in July, saying there was no evidence that the Scottish public would support such a move.

Labour MSP George Foulkes said he would put forward a member's bill to Holyrood if the Scottish Government failed to introduce the system.

He said: "Previous governments were concerned that there was a lack of public and professional support for a new system of presumed consent but that has now changed.

"This is an excellent result for people whose lives are affected by organ donation and transplantation as it means we have finally broken the barrier that was preventing this issue from being debated in parliament and becoming law.

"This latest boost to the campaign means I can press ahead and seek assurance from the health minister, Nicola Sturgeon, that she will introduce a new system of presumed consent in Scotland."