Increasing Organ Donation

EDM number 310 in 2017-19, proposed by Timothy Farron on 12/09/2017.
Categorised under the topics of Health services and Medical ethics.

That this House notes that there are currently over 6,400 people waiting for an organ transplant in the UK; strongly regrets that last year 457 people died unnecessarily while on the active transplant waiting list; further notes that 875 more people had to be removed from the list mainly due to ill health, and that many of those people will have died shortly after being removed; recognises that only one in every 100 people die in circumstances where they could donate, so every potential donor is precious; notes that in England the support of an organ donor's family is needed for a donation to go ahead, even if that person is on the NHS Organ Donor Register; acknowledges that around 63 per cent of families provide authorisation for their loved one's organs to be transplanted, a figure which has changed little over the last few years; further regrets that the UK has one of the lowest rates of consent in Europe; recognises that Organ Donation Week encourages individuals who wish to be donors to discuss their wishes with their families as soon as possible; calls for a consultation on consent in England such as the one that has already been undertaken in Scotland and Wales; urges the Government to ensure that this consultation explores all possible opportunities to increase donations, including an opt-out system such as that which exists in Wales and is planned in Scotland; and recognises the outstanding generosity of donors and their families and the contribution they have made towards improving the lives of countless people in need.

This motion has been signed by a total of 27 MPs.