BBC HomeExplore the BBC

9 January 2009
Accessibility help
Text only

BBC Homepage

Contact Us

Like this page?
Send it to a friend!

 

Your island

You are in: Jersey > People > Your island > Opt in or out?

Gulab with her grandson

Gulab with her grandson.

Opt in or out?

Should we have to opt in or out of being an organ donor? Have your say…

The UK has one of the lowest organ donation rates in Europe, and currently in the UK and Jersey you have to sign up to give consent four your organs to be donated.

But with many people dying every year waiting for organs to become available, there have been calls for an opt-out scheme.

Over the past year a panel in the UK has been looking at presuming consent from everyone unless they opt out, but they've rejected the plans.

That doesn’t mean Jersey has to, or even will go the same way.

Jersey may follow policies in some European countries to remove healthy organs from patients who've died unless they've signed a form saying they don't want to donate them.

donor card

At the moment, Jersey uses the card carrying system where they're only taken if the patient has given consent on an organ donor card.

Jersey's Health Minister, Senator Ben Shenton, says the island may go ahead with an opt out scheme similar to the one used in Europe.

He told the Breakfast Programme it would be taken up if it saves lives.

The Minister said: "We need to have a discussion with the department, I need to get the full feeling of the department. I have only spoken with one consultant so far, I need to speak to others to fill me in.

"It is not a closed book as far as I'm concerned, we will look at it, as I say it is not something a lot of people give thought to but if we can save lives and improve the quality of lives for people we will do it."

There is a a group that represents patients with kidney problems in Jersey who believe the current arrangements for finding donors isn’t working.

The Jersey Kidney Patients Association says there are only around 3000 registered organs donors in Jersey, which isn't enough.

It's thought around a 1000 people die every year in Britain because there aren't enough donors.

Have your say

Should Jersey move to an opt-out system or do you think things should stay as they are? Would you donate your organs or would you opt out if the system were to be changed? Are you already an organ donor – have you told your next of kin?

last updated: 18/11/2008 at 12:59
created: 18/11/2008

Have Your Say

The BBC reserves the right to edit comments submitted.

Rosie
Yes, we should OPT-OUT. An opt-out policy doesn't force anyone to do anything they do not wish. If they feel that strongly about it, the option to opt-out is there. Most people are simply to lazy to opt-in, even though they support organ donation wholeheartedly. Let's decrease the number of people on waiting lists and save lives, as other countries in Europe have clearly proven by adopting an opt-out policy.

Realist.
No, we should OPT IN. It should never be assumed that we accept a point of view. No one should be forced to do anything. If people believe in something enough they will make the effort to ensure they are part of it. Yes you can counter the argument by saying if I BELIEVE in not donoring I will make the effort to ensure it wont happen. That is working on a negative assumption. If we adopted an OPT OUT system we would have to do it for everything.

Jo N
I've consented on the back of my driving license, which i always carry, I didnt know you had to register anywhere. Ditto Nikki - lets have the details.

Nikki
Maybe you should include the details on this page on how to sign up to be a doner. Might encourage a few peeps to join.

Kate Roberts
I vote for the opt out system

You are in: Jersey > People > Your island > Opt in or out?



About the BBC | Help | Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookies Policy
Advertise with us