Meeting of the Parliament 09 February 2016
It is my great privilege to open this debate, to welcome key stakeholders and their families to the public gallery and to speak to my motion that the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Transplantation (Authorisation of Removal of Organs etc) (Scotland) Bill.
Today, we will debate and vote on whether we as a Parliament agree to the general principles of the bill—that is, whether we agree with its overall purpose, which is ultimately to introduce a soft opt-out system of organ donation in Scotland. This debate is not about whether we agree with every specific provision in the bill. That is what the amending stages of the parliamentary process for bills are for. If members agree that Scotland should have a soft opt-out system of organ donation, they should vote for the bill tonight. If they are against the introduction of an opt-out system, they should vote against it. That is the decision that we will make today.
It has taken me almost two years to reach this point, and it would be absolutely devastating to all those who have participated and built up their expectations if that time has been wasted. Time is a luxury that those who are waiting on an organ transplant do not have. Tragically, not everyone who started this journey with us is here today to hear the debate. That is the reality.
It has been a huge privilege to hear the personal stories of those whose lives have been affected by waiting on an organ transplant and those who have been given the gift of life. From the bottom of my heart, I sincerely thank them for sharing their experiences. I know that it has not been easy for them. The bill is for them. Members should be in no doubt that people want us to introduce a soft opt-out system of organ donation, not at some point in the future, but right here and right now.
I also place on the record my thanks to the members of the Health and Sport Committee, the Finance Committee and the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee for their consideration of the bill and its accompanying documents, and I thank the non-Government bills unit for all the fabulous assistance that it has provided. I thank David McColgan of the British Heart Foundation and Caroline Wilson of the Glasgow Evening Times for their total support over the past two years. Last but not least, I thank my wonderful team for all their hard work, patience and support. They care as passionately as I do about the bill.
As I said, the bill has a single purpose—to introduce a soft opt-out system of organ donation in Scotland. If there is the will—and the political will—to do so, we can agree at a later date the mechanics of how we implement the system. Let us be clear—as I have always been from the bill’s conception—that the bill as introduced is not the final word but can be amended at later stages. The bill is necessary as people in Scotland still die every year while waiting on an organ transplant.