Would it be a good idea to have to carry a card if you DON'T want to become a donor?

[MamaG]

That way, hospitals could assume you were a donor unless you carried a card saying you specifically didn't want to?

I'm just thinking that some of my pals did want to be donors, but hadn't got around to signing up (until they got a kick up the arse!!). Maybe this would be a better way?

Maybe its been suggested before.

Some countries have an opt-out scheme where everyone is considered a possible organ donor unless they have registered that they don't want to be.

Much better idea, then those who realy didn't want to donate would make sure they filled in the form, rather than those that might and never get round to it.

I've got a feeling that even if you have registered to donate and your family say no they can go against your wishes

I think an-opt out system is a good idea, yes.

MamaG - I've always thought that an opt-out system would be much better. Easier all round for everyone. I've been on the donor list for years, as has my DH and we've both agreed that should anything awful happen to the children - their organs would be donated too. We have discussed this with the eldest (almost 11) and he thinks it's a good idea.

Sorry, but I'm not keen. In reality the cards aren't used that much - it is primarily the wishes of the relatives which are taken into account (and their knowledge of the potential donor's wishes). You don't have to be registered to be a donor - but your family and friends should know your wishes.

My real concern with an opt-out system is that it would be the poorly educated, or recent arrivals to the UK without English as a first language who would probably feel aggrieved. Whilst the leaders of the main religions have made it clear that organ donation is in line with their beliefs there are still some sensitivities (eg Muslims will wish to be buried by sundown), and there are other religions which do still have issues.

Spain is quoted as a "good" example of a successful opt-in system (actually relatviely few countries do have such a system). In reality the single biggest factor for Spain's increased transplant rate is the larger number of road traffic accidents (resulting in a larger number of potential donors in the first place). And even in an opt-out system, relatives still have the right to refuse consent (and about 1 in 5 do, compared with 2 in 5 in the UK).

The main bonus of an opt-out scheme is that it changes people's perceptions about donation, and that it becomes the normal thing to do. I think tht there are other ways to acheive that without a change in law. The curent system could be promoted more and used more for example.

I am pro-organ-donation. But I know that the reality of giving consent to the decision is a very different thing. To be a viable donor you would typically still have a beating heart, be breathing but be brain dead. And to have to make that decision whilst there is still "hope", however remote, however misplaced, must be incredibly difficult.