Off the record slow progress on organ donation changes

  A poll published at the weekend indicates once again that Scottish people are in favour of a change in organ donation law, writes Jennifer Trueland. More than half (54 per cent) of those questioned in a YouGov poll for The Times said they preferred an opt-out system in which people have to indicate if they do not consent to donating their organs after their death, compared with 37 per cent who say they favour the current opt-in system, in which people have to give consent. The poll may be new, but the findings chime with those of previous surveys, which have consistently suggested that support for the status quo is waning. Yet still nothing changes. The Scottish Parliament was due to discuss the issue this week. On Tuesday, MSPs were to debate the Transplantation (Removal of Organs etc) (Scotland) Bill. Brought by Glasgow Labour MSP Anne McTaggart, the bill has had widespread support, including from the BMA. At the time of writing, however, prospects do not look good for this particular bill. A majority of members of the Scottish Parliament’s health committee — which is charged with scrutinising the bill at stage one — did not support it, largely because of serious concerns over some practical aspects, rather than on a matter of principle. Also, the line of the Scottish Government has until now been that we must wait until the opt-out system being tested in Wales has been evaluated to see what impact it has on the number of organs available for trans...
Source: BMA News - Category: UK Health Source Type: news