Meeting of the Parliament 01 November 2012
I thank Kenny Gibson for securing the debate. I am delighted to take part in this important debate on presumed consent for organ donation in Scotland. I know that the subject is particularly sensitive and I recognise that a wide range of views are held on the proposed adoption of such a system.
I acknowledge the serious and difficult circumstances that are faced by thousands of people who are currently on the waiting list for organ transplant operations. I am sure that people on all sides of the debate would agree that positive actions need to be taken urgently to address that situation. At this time, more than 600 Scottish people are on the waiting list for a transplant operation, and on average three people die each day as a result of no suitable organs being available in time.
The campaign to raise awareness of the issue by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and the Evening Times has highlighted some of the key issues that need to be fully considered in the course of the debate, principally whether an opt-out system would result in a greater number of organs being made available for transplant and how many lives would subsequently be saved.
As we heard in earlier speeches, about 40 per cent of people in Scotland have signed up to the organ donation register. That compares favourably with a number of international examples of opt-in systems that are similar to the UK model of the organ donation register. However, international examples of opt-out systems show that organ donations tend to be between 25 and 30 per cent higher under such systems, compared with systems in which individuals have to register to donate. That trend has been consistent, and it illustrates that the adoption of a new system in Scotland could play a vital role in saving lives.
Recent studies of public support for organ donation have found the intention to register to be as high as 90 per cent while actual registration is as low as 25 per cent in some parts of the UK. That is strong evidence that an opt-in system could increase access for those who are unaware of the current process and encourage greater awareness of the impact that organ donation can have. I believe that many more Scots than are currently on the organ donor list would be in favour of registering. They might have not registered only as a result of a lack of information or the time constraints that are involved in their leading busy and active lives. The comparatively high percentage who have already registered as donors suggests that our population is receptive to the idea of organ donation and that many more would be comfortable with being added to the list of potential donors in the future.
Although I support the adoption of an opt-out process and believe that the benefits of such a system would outweigh the administrative challenges of its operation, it would have to be accompanied by high-quality and readily available information on how to opt out. It would be unacceptable to have large numbers of people registered as donors who would be unhappy with that arrangement, and it would be unacceptable to cause unnecessary distress to families after the death of a loved one. That is why the process of opting out should be made simple and patients should routinely be asked for their continued consent at all available opportunities.
It is clear that we have a crisis in organ donation in Scotland and tough decisions have to be made to rectify that devastating reality. An opt-out system would act as a prompt for those who are in favour of registering to have the process completed for them, and many lives would undoubtedly be saved as a result.