Online focus on organ donor options (From York Press)

Online focus on organ donor options

8:25am Wednesday 19th September 2012 in News

THE controversial issue of whether the organ donor register should be “opt out” rather than “opt in” was the basis of an online debate hosted by a York private health company.

Benenden Healthcare lined up Dr Vivienne Nathanson, of the British Medical Association (BMA), a supporter of the “opt-out” system, in a debate with Nigel Burton, vice-chairman of the Donor Family Network, who wants to keep the current system where a donor has to make it known that their organs can be used after their death.

Benenden said three people die every day in the UK while awaiting an organ transplant. The debate, which took place yesterday, came at time when the Government is reviewing how donation works.

A spokesman for Benenden said: “A donor currently has to make it known that their organs can be used after their death – the so-called opt-in system. But now an opt-out system under which your organs can be used unless you expressly ask for them not to be is being considered.”

In 2009, The Press launched its year-long Lifesavers campaign which went on to encourage more than 13,500 people in our region to join the Organ Donor Register – equivalent to 37 a day.

The campaign, launched following the tragic death of cystic fibrosis sufferer Emma Young, 22, aimed to raise awareness of organ donation and recruit an extra 20,000 donors in our circulation area.

A recording of the debate should be available from today at studiotalk.tv/show/the-big-debate-on-organ-donation or by following the links on Benenden’s Facebook page.