Last week (Friday 15 March), the Organ Donation Act received Royal Assent and passed into law in England. The law has been named Max and Keira’s Law after the inspirational Keira Ball, who donated her organs when she died aged 9 years old, and the young recipient who received her heart, Max Johnson.
The new law means that from spring 2020, all adults in England will be considered a potential organ donor unless they record their decision not to donate or are in one of the excluded groups. These groups include under-18s and people without the mental capacity to understand the law change.
Max and Keira’s Law is now in place, however, it will be a year before the new system is introduced. This will allow time for people to understand what the law change means and have time to consider their options.
The move to an ‘opt-out’ system in England follows a successful change in Wales in December 2015. Just a few months ago, the Welsh government published figures that showed that Wales now has the highest organ donation consent rates of any of the UK countries.
Why does changing the law matter?
Currently, only around 5,000 people every year die in circumstances where they can potentially donate their organs. Each donor is incredibly precious. The more people who
donate, the more patients will receive the life-saving transplant they desperately need. While the majority (80%) of people in England tell us they support organ donation, this is not reflected in the numbers (38%) who have currently registered their donation decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register. We hope that more people will register their organ donation decision and speak with their families regarding their choice.
What does the law change mean for me?
People will still have a choice whether or not they want to donate and organ donation will still be a gift. The families of potential organ donors will still be approached before donation goes ahead. Regardless of whether or not you decide to donate, we would encourage you to register your decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register.
Common questions and misconceptions
Will you automatically take my organs if I don’t opt out?
No. If someone hasn’t registered a decision then we will speak with their family and ask what their relative would have wanted or what the family feel is right. We encourage people to register their decision, but families will continue to be involved, so it is important to share your decision with them.
Am I losing control of what happens to my body?
It will still be for you to choose if you want to be an organ donor and you still have the ability to opt in or opt out. Your family will always be approached before donation takes place, so it’s important that family and friends know your decision.
Will doctors still try to save me if they know I’ve agreed to donation?
If you are seriously ill or injured, your medical team will always do everything possible to save your life. If, despite their best efforts, death is inevitable, only then will organ and tissue donation will only then be considered. Only when end-of-life care planning starts is
the NHS Organ Donor Register accessed and the possibility of organ donation discussed with your family.
If I am happy to donate some but not all of my organs, should I opt out?
If you are willing to be a donor but want to specify which organs and/or tissue you would like to donate, you should register as a donor on the NHS Organ Donor Register. This allows you to state which organs and tissue you are prepared to donate.
Why do you seek the support of families for donation?
Families are always involved in organ donation discussions. This is out of consideration to the family and to gather important information, such as medical, lifestyle and travel history. Family information, together with medical notes and tests, is vital to understanding whether the person’s organs are safe to transplant into somebody else.
What now?
There is plenty of time before the new system comes into effect. By registering your decision and speaking with family, you will make it easier for them if you die in circumstances when organ donation is possible.
Visit the [[https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/faq/what-is-opt-
out/ NHS Organ Donation website]] to find out more and to register your decision.
MNHQ UPDATE: Phil Walton, operational lead for Opt Out, will be returning to the thread today (21/03/2019) to answer your questions from 6pm-7pm
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Guest post on Max and Keira’s Law: “People will still have a choice whether or not they want to donate.“
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MumsnetGuestPosts · 19/03/2019 17:26
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