Organ donation

In recent weeks/months the Welsh government have proposed an "opt-out" organ donation scheme, if passed the scheme would be the first of its kind in the UK and would be likely to start in 2015.

As the name suggests people will be deemed to have consented to becoming organ donors unless they "opt-out" of the organ donation register.

The proposed scheme will leave families with no official "legal veto" against donation by a deceased loved one. However politicians stress that families will be able to stop organs being removed in practice, and such cases will be looked into carefully as they arise.

The scheme would include all those over 18 that have lived in Wales for six months or more.

The current situation where people must die in hospital to be eligible as a donor, even if they are on the register, will stay the same.

Very briefly, of those that die in hospital there are two types of donors, heart beating and non heart beating. Heart beating donors are those that were on ventilation before death, as such the heart continues to pump and blood flows after death keeping vital organs such as the heart itself supplied with oxygen. By contrast non heart beating donors are those that were not on ventilation before death, as a consequence only certain organs can be donated, the kidneys for example.

Most recently the press has questioned whether such a scheme is really necessary? Currently 60% of families of potential donors approached after death by a specialist nurse agree to donation. The scheme in question could in fact have a negative effect, one causing people to feel organ donation is being 'forced' upon them and therefore becoming reluctant to donate and choosing to "opt-out."

So, what alternative solutions are there? Perhaps the government could invest in campaigns aiming to increase awareness about the importance of organ donation instead to try and increase the number of voluntary donors.

What are the reasons for the 'lack of donors'? Why don't more people opt in to organ donation currently? Here are a few potential reasons:
- Confusion and fear due to a lack of explanation regarding the process. For example, will a doctor fight to save me or will they fight less because I am an organ donor?
- How will the doctor know I am dead and what's to stop them rushing into taking my organs?
- What happens after death, might I need my organs for some reason? This is something I certainly cannot answer myself! What do you think?

The reasons behind those willing to donate are perhaps more obvious, for example:
- As an act of kindness which would better and potentially save someones life
- A personal or family experience in which someone received an organ (as an act of thanks) or did not receive an organ (to prevent others going through a similar situation)

Finally the article mentions the importance of speaking to loved ones about your wishes after death, what would you want to happen to your organs if you were to die? If this has been done then families are much less likely to refuse organ donation as they would know what their loved ones wishes were..

(Source: BBC Health)