Gordon Brown, while outlining his plans for reforms to the organ donor system, has expressed his support for an organ donation system based on “presumed consent ” rather than the existing system of patient and next of kin consent. The SNP Scottish Government agrees. However, patient groups are opposed as are others as it will involve a significant shift in the relationship between the individual and the state. The idea would deal with the shortage of organ donors in the UK which contributes to approximately 1,000 deaths each year. Personally as an organ donor card holder I prefer the “primary consent” approach that would remove the next of kin from decision-making rather than the “nationalisation” of dead bodies. In the UK, 40% of families (75% of minority ethnic families) of a organ donor refuse permission despite the wishes of the deceased.
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