MSPs criticised for rejecting opt-out donor plan

Doctors say too few on organ donation register

News, 3 February 2006

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The British Medical Association in Scotland has criticised MSPs for not backing an amendment to the Human Tissue Bill which would have required people to opt out of organ donation.

Yesterday MSPs instead voted to strengthen the current system as they passed the bill, which will now come into force on 1 September this year. Anyone who has a donor card or who is registered on the Organ Donor Register will automatically be accepted as an automatic donor. If someone has not given consent in this way, family members will be asked what his or her wishes would have been.

Dr Peter Terry of the BMA said that while 90% of the population supported organ donation, only 21% were registered as donors, meaning that many people were dying while waiting for organs.

Deputy Health Minister Lewis Macdonald said: "We firmly believe that building upon the current 'opt-in' system is the right way forward for Scotland.... Self-authorisation [by carrying a card or registering] is obviously the best way to ensure that your own personal wishes are known. The new legislation will ensure these wishes are respected.

"I am confident that in light of this new legislation and through awareness raising campaigns we will see an increase in the number of people self-authorising."

The bill also strengthens the law on hospital post mortems and updates the Anatomy Act 1984.

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