Hunt gives hope admitting ‘lot of merit’ in opt-out

JEREMY Hunt has given his strongest signal to date that the Government could change the law on organ donation.

The Health Secretary was asked if England would follow Scotland and Wales by changing the law so adults are assumed to have consented to donating their organs after death. In a boost for the Mirror’s campaign, he told MPs: “I think there is a lot of merit in the opt-out systems.

“We’re now looking very closely at the evidence. If it does lead to an increase in organ donations it’s certainly something we want to pursue here.” In Wales there has been a 20% increase in the number of successful transplants since the law was changed in December 2015.

Scotland announced last month it was also changing its law to a “soft opt-out”, where families and next of kin can still veto the decision.