Donors could face prison for using ‘organs for funerals’ website

ORGAN donors have been warned they face three years in jail if they sign up to a controversial scheme that promises to help with funeral costs for those who join the transplant list.

The Human Tissues Authority (HTA) said it was concerned that the organisation Organ Tree was turning organ donation into a financial arrangement.

The company, which is registered in Ireland but whose directors are based in England, asks people who need transplants to pay a registration fee of €30 and promises to help match them with an organ donor. When the donor dies, the website states that the recipient “has the option of accepting the donated organ and reimbursing the donor’s beneficiary an agreed amount to help offset funeral costs”.

However, under The Human Tissue Act 2004, anyone offering or receiving a reward in exchange for an organ for transplant can face up to three years in jail. A new position statement from the regulator states: “If an individual were to register with Organ Tree Ltd, or any other service operating on a similar basis, or enter into any financial arrangement associated with organ donation, they are likely to be breaking the law, which prohibits almost all payment and attempts to seek payment.” Around 4,500 transplants carried out on the NHS every year, but around 1,200 people will die on the waiting list.

Allan Marriott-smith, the chief executive of the HTA, said: “Signing up to the NHS Organ Donor Register is how you can record your decision about donating organs and tissue after death.

“Anyone in the UK signing up to an alternative service, where payment linked to donation is a possibility, is at risk of committing a criminal offence.”

The Health Products Regulatory Authority, the HTA’S Irish equivalent, last night confirmed it was reviewing the activities of Organ Tree.

At the time of publication, Organ Tree had not replied to The Daily Telegraph’s requests for a comment.