Organ Donation and Presumed Consent

Over 8000 people each year are waiting for an organ donation (1000 die having not recieved one.) Currently people 'opt-in' to organ donation by carrying a donor card and/or signing up to the NHS Organ Donor Register to indicate their wishes after death.

Is a system of presumed consent the solution? Hospitals could assume consent to remove organs after an individual dies, unless they have 'opted out' or a family member objects.

Views:

The Prime Minister says that such a facility would save thousands of lives and that he hopes such a system can start this year. "A system of this kind seems to have the potential to close the aching gap between the potential benefits of transplant surgery in the UK and the limits imposed by our current system of consent," [12/4/08] (www.telegraph.co.uk)

Prof. John Fabre, from King's College London and a former president of the British Transplantation Society... "Presumed consent would degrade the ethical framework of our society and change a system of organ donation based on generosity and compassion into one of the state taking back what it thinks is its, while intruding on one of the most personal and delicate moments of a families life." [5/9/08] (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/)

• What impact does presumed consent have on a persons rights over their own body?


• Will there be a conflict of interests for medical staff in saving one life and seeking the organs to save another?
  
• How will this impact on families? Could it be a more sensitive approach than medical staff having to ask about organ donation immediately after the death of a loved one?


• Will it increase the numbers of lives saved?