Organ donation

Support an opt-in organ donation system in Wales

If you're a Welsh resident, respond to the Welsh Government's consultation on introducing an opt-in organ donation.

Humanists generally support scientists and researchers in their quest for knowledge, and support scientific and medical advances for the improvement of our health. As humanists do not believe in a continued existence after death or place an additional spiritual value upon the human body, there is no reason to object to allowing ones organs to be used to help others after death, except for when an individual has expressed a personal wish otherwise. Most humanists would consider that we have a moral responsibility to allow our organs to be used for transplantation, if that will help save lives and improve the quality of life for others. Humanists believe in individual rights and freedoms – but believe that individual responsibility, social cooperation and mutual respect are just as important.

The British Humanist Association believes that better public education about organ donation and transplantation is essential, and that policy actions at both state and European levels are needed in order to increase the number of organ transplants and so save lives. We are also very concerned that the low number and availability of organs donated across Europe is contributing to unnecessary deaths for want of transplants and to an increased trafficking in organs, and in human beings for the purpose of removal of organs, from outside of Europe.

What’s happening?

Currently the UK operates an ‘opt-in’ organ donor scheme where people have to register  independently with the organ donor register. Organ donation is only possible in a limited number of situations and, because of this, it really is important that every consenting donor is able to make their wishes known so that they can help others after their own death. However, it is often the case that those wishing to donate their organs have never registered or have never discussed the matter with their friends and family, so medical staff and close relatives may not be aware of the donor’s wishes to help others after their own death. This can contribute to the deficit in the number of organs available to help those waiting for organ transplants.

The British Humanist Association supports the introduction of a ‘presumed consent’ system, whereby individuals must actively opt out should they not wish their organs to be used for donation after their death. Under a system of presumed consent, supported by good public information, education and awareness of that system, if an individual has particularly strong objections to organ donation after death, then they are able make their feelings clear and opt out, while they are alive. Moreover, the presumed consent system seems better able to protect the wishes of someone who had not opted-out, even if the relatives themselves have strong views against organ transplantation, because the individual should have been given good enough information to make an informed choice when they were alive and the presumed consent should usually be taken as paramount.

The BHA supports the British Medical Association’s suggested ‘soft’ system of ‘presumed consent’, whereby organ donation (for those over the age of 16) is the default position, but where relatives are told that the individual had not opted out and are asked if they are aware of any unregistered objection. This also removes the burden from relatives of having to guess at the wishes of the deceased.

What are we doing?

In 2008 the BHA made a submission to a House of Lords inquiry into organ donation, was consulted by the  Organ Donation Taskforce, and gave oral evidence to the Welsh Assembly Government Committee Inquiry into Presumed Consent for Organ Donation, recommending that the UK adopt a presumed consent ‘opt-out’ organ donor scheme to replace the current ‘opt-in’ scheme. While the Organ Donation taskforce did not recommend the introduction of a system of presumed consent at the present time, it did recommend public investment into education about organ donation, which we welcomed.

Currently, the British Humanist Association is writing a leaflet about humanist perspectives on organ donation for the NHS Blood and Transplant section to add to their existing series of leaflets explaining organ donation from a variety of viewpoints and principles. These leaflets encourage people to think about organ donation and consider some of the issues and benefits involved.

What can you do?

The BHA consults with its members on the subjects of human tissues, embryo research, abortion, fertility, and many other scientific and ethical issues. We welcome your comments on these subjects, which help us to form our campaigns.

Join the Organ Donor Register and help save lives after your death: http://www.uktransplant.org.uk/

You can email your MP to ask them to support calls for a “soft” presumed consent policy.

You can support the BHA by becoming a member. That helps in itself, and you can help even more by supporting our campaigns in the ways suggested above. But campaigns also cost money – quite a lot of money – and we also need financial support. You can make a donation to the BHA.