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CHANGING TO A ‘soft opt-out system’ could “vastly increase” Ireland’s rate of organ donation, says the Oireachtas Committee which has examined the issue.
According to the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children, such a move “has the potential to change public attitudes”.
Ireland currently uses an ‘opt-in system’ which means that people have to express their consent before their organs can be donated. Most countries in the EU have already swapped to an opt-out system, where patients would have to express their wishes not to donate. Otherwise, medical staff will presume they are donors.
Committee chairman Jerry Buttimer says that other nations have seen “significant increases” in their rates of organ donation after the change. He noted that over a three year period, Belgium’s rate of organ donation increased by 100 per cent and Singapore witnessed an increase of a massive 700 per cent.
The committee recommended a system whereby the family of the next of kin would always be consulted to ensure the maintenance of the principle that donation is a gift.
The report, published today, outlines the committee’s ‘strong view’ that any transition to a soft opt-out system must be supported by increased investment in essential infrastructure, transplant surgeons and trained support staff.
“Each kidney transplant has the potential to save €680,000 over a 15 year period. A short term investment in our organ donation infrastructure has the potential to deliver real long term savings for our health system, not to mention the long term benefits to the lives of organ recipients,” it continued.
The committee also recommended that any change would be accompanied by a significant public awareness campaign.
The opt-out system would only include organs available for donation to other patients, and would not apply to reproductive organs, or other organs and tissues for research purposes.
A number of groups and individuals, including former GAA footballer Joe Brolly, had contributed to a public consultation earlier this year.
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I think this is a great idea our baby boy died just short of three months ago and we donated his heart valves so some baby out there is alive today because of him.
My sympathies to you and my admiration for your actions. But this law would have no impact on your actions . You willingly consented to your action. This law seeks to hand the control of a persons body and organs to the medical authorities and remove expressed consent from people .
I think its a great idea. My Dad is alive today because someone donated a kidney. It’s so so important. At least hospital staff would have to ask the question as I have heard some families are not even asked about organ donation.
@Barbara… It’s true. Many families are not even asked, as there are many conditions that would make any particular patient unsuitable for donation.
Barbara – great to hear such a positive story. As the father of two boys with serious kidney illness I appeal to everyone to become a donor.
When I found out my daughter was diabetic I decided to keep my kidneys healthy, as 50% of kidney patients are diabetic. If she ever needs one I hope I’m a match so I can give her mine. If not someone else can have them when I die.
Why would you take something to your grave that could save someone elses life?
Antonio – people must be afforded choice/ autonomy, without it the system will have no credibility and will be bogged down with legal wranglings.
Sorry that was for Antonov, predicted text on Apple is shi*e.
I agree totaly with you Paul and hope ther future brings you the result you need . But let everyone become a donor don’t allow the medical practitioners take what they want.
Because it should be your choice to do so and not be considerd a free spare parts entity???
Even if you want to buy 2nd hand parts for a car you have to pay for them.Why should human parts be any different??
You’re ten times more likely to need an organ than to be in the position to give one. I hope this is brought in… Please donate, you won’t need them!
I would happily agree to this. I see no reason why my organs should not be used to save somebodies life when I die.
As long as they don’t give someone my liver. Likely it would fail.
In fact if I died today the only thing worth taking from me would be my hair I’d say. Everything else is rough.
You look a bit white alright
That just made me laugh out loud! Thank you!
Don’t know what knick my organs will be in when I kick the bucket but whoever wants them help yourself
I dont care if people call me selfish I was born with all my organs and I will die with them all in.
And what about after you die, when your body has no use for them?
Would you see the irony in your stance if YOU needed an organ and the only person able to give it to you to save your life had the same attitude?
Not selfish at all. That’s why this system is perfect. If you feel that strong then opt out.
U can die with them all in they wait till your dead
@John Deane…. Many people will share your view, I have no doubt. One of the subtleties that you, and most lay people, would not have considered is that most organ donations come from those patients who have already been diagnosed as technically brain-dead, whereby the heart is still beating, and the body’s organs (with the exception of the brain) still functioning. There is NO hope of recovery from that state, and most often supportive care is withdrawn after lengthy discussion and explanation with the family.
That’s fair enough John, it’ll be easy for you to opt out, but can I ask you why you want to die with them all in, when you know that they could be the greatest gift that someone else could receive? I just can’t fathom why anyone would actually choose not to donate.
John – absolutely your choice and people must respect that, I certainly do.
Thanks Richard, you gave me a great laugh there ! Brilliant answer
True, you were born with them and true you will die with them but do you need them to get to the after life. They will just rot in a mound of dirt when they could have given life.
I’m a bit puzzled as to how this will work Ill explain why but the rest of this post might be a bit disturbing for some people so if you don’t want to know the details from the docs point of view, don’t read on
As a stroke doctor I end up asking quite a few relatives for organs and it’s always something were very conscious of. Most people agree but sometimes can often request that some organs aren’t taken, we don’t tend to argue. There are however a fairly limited number of circumstances where we can take an organ, the person more or less has to be brain dead but has not spent a long time in the ICU, we see this most often in young people with massive brain haemorrhages but they’re not that common. Thie problem is that we use quite powerful drugs to maintain blood pressure etc in the ICU and they can cause damage to organs which would make them unsuitable to transplant although would heal in time if the patients survived. If someone has arrested for a long period of time, it can also be difficult to take their organs because generally it doesn’t happen at a time when we can protect organs. I don’t see a lot of folks where we miss potential organ donations, I think services where they don’t see a lot of suitable candidates would be more reluctant to ask, but I’m not sure this legislation will help that much. It’s a really uncomfortable thing to ask a recently bereaved relative who’s loved one was probably perfectly well that morning. It’s perhaps easier to ask when you have to do it regularly, therefore I think the answer is more transplant coordinators.
Agreed .
The most common organ donations come from young people. Typically victims of intentional or unintentional sudden trauma. Families have some time to accept the fact of brain death, though still a difficult decision. Brain death is determined over a period of time. Trained personnel approach the family. I see the trauma victims on a professional level and on the other end of the spectrum I know on a personal level children and young people who have had a chance at life because of the amazing decision of a grieving family to give the ultimate gift. I think the opt out rule is good, everyone has to think and decide. To not decide, one way or another, is to say you dont care.
I carry a paper donor card and one as an app on my phone, however my next of kin could still refuse my wishes as the current situation stands . Would an opt out also be the same? Genuine question.
Patricia – from my understanding, yes. I think the idea is to make it a normal part of the death process. In Belgium it seems almost 100% of deaths are offered for donor purposes.
Thanks Paul, however I I feel that unless the donors wishes are respected we will always have less donors . If the new system goes ahead personally I feel that it should also be that the wishes of the donor should be respected. This can be done by ensuring that those who have a card have the right to have their wishes respected .
Patricia – that would be ideal, but sadly the next of kin must be considered for both legal and practical reasons. If the next of kin are ignored people could lose faith in the system or grind it to a halt with injunctions and litigation.
that is a double edged sword if I don’t wish to donate my organs my family can overrule my wishes . The only truly honest system is those who wish to donate register their wishes on a national database and that is respected
Me – a fair point, but even within the current situation the next of kin are consulted and consent sought even if the deceased is a registered donor. It is a very difficult subject and the required balance of autonomy is even more difficult.
My drivers license states that I am a donor. My husband always said he would not agree. Until a close friend ended up on a transplant list in his 40s. Now he too has his license stating that he is a donor. Education is the key.
Mary – absolutely, education is key.
Listening to this on matt cooper earlier. …bit of a no brainer
Hi im dying. Im 44 yrs old with 3 young children and a fantastic wife , who is keeping our heads above water. I need a double lung transplant. A word has been left out of the above discussion, ie SOFT opt-out. If this goes ahead all potential doners and their families will be asked to consider donating organs. They can still say No. That is NO organs used. Any other argument is scare mongering. This system ensures people are asked the question. The bigger issue is proper resources. Someday I hope to get the call that there is a pair of lungs suitable for me. My family deserve that much. So please carry a doner card, discuss with others and give consent
Wishing you luck and good health.prayers are with you.
Sorry to hear this michael, best wishes to you and your family, and i hope you get that call someday soon.
Michael you’re comment is excellent and gave me goosebumps( in a bad way). I work with people awaiting transplant. It’s a horrific limbo to be in- waiting on something you do not know will happen or not. The soft out option means as you said above…. No donations will be taken from anybody unless the NOK agrees therefore all this talk of organ harvesting is a bit medieval! The most successful countries Spain, Norway etc have presumed consent with no word of the soft opt out. I cannot see the argument for wanting to keep something that will be no use to you when you have died. I have spoken with my family and my personal request is that my family take me off a ventilator after 48hours and donate my organs, it was difficult having that conversation with my parents and my partner, but I have made them promise me they carry through my wishes if anything untoward happens me. Michael, people awaiting transpland are always on my mind, I try to educate my friends, family, partner, partners colleagues etc etc. I genuinely hope and pray you get your transplant before you become more unwell. Take care of yourself and the best of luck, because unfortuneatly in Ireland that is what we need! Luck! And that’s not right
Id like to thank Mary Carmel, Amy Corcoran and Barbie loves Cork for their supportive comments.
Organ donation is always an emotive subject. People respond to the fear of death in many ways. The more information on soft opt-out organ donation that is available the better. Organs will only be used for donation to another person only. Not for any other reason.
Just think that if one person donates their organs up to 7 lives can be saved/improved by the magnificant gesture. I ask people to stop and think what that would mean. So again carry a card, discuss your wishes with your family and give consent.
I can respect some people would be freaked out at the thought of donating thier organs. However I do wish more people would donate but it should be a choice not an opt out option. Ill donate all mine bar my eyes :-)
They don’t take the eyes just the corneas. I originally didn’t want to donate my eyes until I found out it was the corneas. My one cornea is damaged so that one can’t be used.
My only issue is with my face. I don’t want to donate my facial skin. It can burn with me when I go.
I did not know that, thanks. I still want them both. Yeah I would want my face too. Its a tough one really!
why not? you wont need them, genuine question, ill donate any bit of me they want, even for research
and that is your choice . I respect your wishes why should anyone have the right to take anything from me without my expressed consent ..
Really? That face? Your right it is a tough one!
No need to b rude
Why do you want any part of you? If it is what is seen at the wake well they put in prosthetics. Face tissue is not harvested. So much can be done for those that are living, you are dead and don’t need anything. Skin is used for those that have horrific burns. Corneas give sight to someone still alive. You are in a greater place where these organs and tissues are not a part of you.
So you have the choice – opt out.
I think this is a just solution. Please take all of mine before I’m turned to ash. John, I respect your opinion but, I feel that if someone opts out, they shouldn’t be allowed to receive a donated organ. It’s only fair.
I’d give me right arm
They have been doing limb transplants for several years now, but the results to date have not been as encouraging as with organs.
I’m all for this. If, after my death, my organs can help another, I’m delighted.
If only organ donors could receive organ donations (bar those unsuitable) there would be far more donors!
Sure yeah, I hear Israel needs a lot of organs these days.
It should be left as is,I personally think it is a invasion of human rights to inforce such a law
Then you just opt out
please explain ?
Enda – you still have autonomy, you would just opt out
Well said.
The whole point of my comment was I shouldn’t have to..obviously your not good at the English yet
Enda – hopefully you were watching Bad Education on BBC3 tonight as you are clearly a Twunt.
I heard an expert on RTE radio today saying this soft opt out system has been an abject failure in every country its been introduced in and in fact many have now returned to the consent based system. Admittedly I was in and out of the room while the radio was on, but he certainly said that it doesn’t actually work.
A nation of body snatchers!
I totally agree with donating organs as it really can be a matter of life or death and can benefit the family as well as the recipient! However i dont like the argument been made for saving money, i think ive given enough with taxes and now expected to give my organs to save money
The quality of life for a human being must always come first. However, we cannot ignore the financial aspect of supporting life while waiting for transplant opportunities. Organs are no use to you when you are dead. The after care of transplant patients is expensive but it opens up opportunities for acute care patients.
I still don’t see how this will put petrol in the ambulance. There’s a lot more to fix in the system before this will be a good idea. Unless organ export is an “unintended” consequence.
Many organs are exported, as you so bluntly put it. In fact, Ireland only launched its lung transplant program within the last 10 years. There is still no facility for many paediatric transplants, with those patients relying on our British and european colleagues for suitable organs.
Paul, if an organ is donated and there isn’t a match at the time here in Ireland but there is somewhere else are you suggesting that we don’t use it to save someone else’s life in another country? If that were the case there would be a lot of people dead in Ireland over the last few decades.
Great idea but you gotta look past that,ask yourself a why 60/70% of organs go to England?,my mum has being waiting for a double lung transplant for the last 7 years and it’s very frustrating,reason being they don’t have the people or locations go carry out this life saving work in this country.as I said this is a great idea but people need to look past this into the real situation in the ground.no point having all these organs if there’s nothing that can be done with them in this country………it’s a joke!!
Thanks for the link to the committee’s report, Sinead.
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