28.06.11
Doctors debate organ donation rules
Doctors wishing to overturn the BMA’s longstanding policy in favour of ‘presumed consent’ for organ donation – the system in which people have to opt out, rather than opt in – are bringing a motion to the organisation’s conference this week.
The Welsh Assembly favours the idea, but some doctors at the conference are arguing that it could damage trust in the medical profession.
Dr Sharon Blackford, a dermatologist from Swansea, who is proposing the motion calling for the BMA to change its position on donation, told the BBC: “Rates are going up and I and my colleagues are concerned that if we move to presumed consent it could damage trust in doctors. If someone is in intensive care, families may feel doctors just want to harvest the organs.
“It also goes against the whole idea of the moment – putting patients in charge. People may start thinking about it differently and it could turn people off.”
More than 3,700 donations took place last year, a 5% increase on the year before.
Professor Vivienne Nathanson, head of science and ethics at the BMA, said: “I don't think it goes against patient choice. They can still opt out. One of the problems now is that people who want to donate sometimes don't tell their families. But with presumed consent you would have a public campaign and it would get people discussing the issue.”
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