February 14, 2018

Opt-out organ donation – will it work?

In October last year Theresa May announced plans to bring in opt-out organ donation to address the shortage of organs donated and the number of people on the waiting list for a transplant.  A public consultation into this proposed system was launched before Christmas and is open until 6 March 2018.

But is the proposed system evidence based?  Are there signs from other countries with opt-out systems that it increases the number of organs available for transplantation?  What does the data say about whether it will work?

Speakers:

Mr Keith Rigg, Consultant Transplant Surgeon, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

Dr Dale Gardiner, Deputy National Clinical Lead for Organ Donation, NHS Blood and Transplant, and Intensive Care Consultant, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

Dr Antonia Cronin, Consultant Nephrologist at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, and Chair of the British Transplantation Society Ethics Committee

Claire Williment, Head of Transplant Development, NHS Blood and Transplant