UK moves toward making adults presumed organ donors

LONDON — Britain took a crucial step Friday toward making all adults presumed organ donors unless they say otherwise, which would add the country to a growing list of those that have adopted the policy to address a chronic shortage for transplants.

The House of Commons, on a sparsely attended voice vote, gave unanimous approval to send an organ donor bill to committee, where a final version would be hammered out. Though it still could face procedural obstacles, it has the support of a rare alliance of the Conservative government, the leadership of the opposition Labour Party, and the British medical establishment, indicating that chances of passage are good.

‘‘I’ve seldom seen such a unanimous range of support,’’ said Geoffrey Robinson, the Labour lawmaker who sponsored the bill and who was one of dozens from both major parties who spoke in favor of it Friday. ‘‘This will save lives.’’

The change would apply in England. The Scottish Parliament is also considering moving to an opt-out system, while Northern Ireland requires explicit consent. Wales has had presumed consent to organ donation since 2015.

Dozens of countries have ‘‘presumed consent’’ laws, in which people who do not want their organs to be used must take formal steps to opt out of donation. Though some of those rules have been in place for decades, most have been adopted in recent years; an opt-out system took effect in France last year, and the Dutch Parliament approved one this month.

In the United States, to be organ donors, people must fill out forms or join an online registry, or their families must give approval; a few states have considered opt-out bills, but none have adopted them.