Organ donation presumed consent bill introduced at Holyrood
A member's bill to introduce a system for presumed consent to organ donation has been introduced in the Scottish Parliament.
Labour MSP Anne McTaggart is sponsoring the Transplantation (Authorisation of Removal of Organs) Scotland Bill, which proposes an opt-out system under which the organs of an adult (a person over 16) would be able to be taken unless they had registered an objection to this taking place, or appointed a proxy to take the decision for them.
At present, potential donors have to join the NHS Organ Donation Register, carry a donor card or make it known, for example in their will, that they consent to their organs being used.
Ms McTaggart said she hoped the "overwhelming evidence in favour of my proposals" would enable the bill to go through ahead of next year's Holyrood elections.
She commented: “Three people die each day while waiting for organ transplants and that is just not good enough.
“It shouldn’t be something you only think about when it affects you and your family.”