Are you aware that organ donation is changing?
Organ Donation week runs from 2nd – 8th September 2019 and if you do not wish to donate any organs when you die you will need to opt out. As of 2020 anyone who does not opt out will be considered for organ donation if the circumstances are right.
The change in the law in England on Organ Donation comes into effect from Spring 2020, all adults in England will be considered to have agreed to be an organ and tissue donor when they die unless they recorded a decision not to donate or are in one of the excluded groups*. This is known as the ‘opt out’ system.
What this means is that if you have not confirmed whether you want to be an organ donor – either by recording a decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/register-your-decision/register-your-details/ or by speaking to friends or family – it will be considered that you agree to donate your organs when you die.
Organ donation remains an act of great generosity. You still have the right to choose whether or not to be an organ donor. Your family will be consulted about donating your organs when you die.
*Excluded from the law are:
- people under 18
- people who lack mental capacity to understand the new arrangements and take the necessary action
- people who have lived in England for less than 12 months before their death
- people who are not living here voluntarily
For more information about the law and what you can donate, please feel free to look at the website https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/
