Emotion a barrier to organ donation consent

One in 10 people could opt out of a system aiming to increase organ donation by presuming consent, according to a new study.

Legislation was tabled at Holyrood earlier this year to shift Scotland to an “opt-out” system for organ donation.

The proposed system would mean assuming an adult is in favour of donation unless they have stated otherwise.

However the study highlighted a number of people have strong emotional barriers towards organ donation.

An opt-out system has been in place in Wales since 2015 and there are plans to introduce a similar scheme in England by 2020.

Research by the University of Stirling

“Evaluation of alternative strategies are required”

indicated campaigns for promoting organ donation focusing on facts could be less effective than those targeting feelings and emotions around the topic.

Jordan Miller coauthored the study with Professor Ronan O’Carroll and Dr Sinead Currie, health psychologists from the Faculty of Natural Sciences.

She said: “We found that participants who plan to opt-out of the proposed system reported heightened emotional barriers towards organ donation.”

Stirling University researchers surveyed 1,202 people in the UK on their intentions under the proposed system and found nearly 10% plan to opt out, or are unsure of their decision.

Ms Miller added: “Before the introduction of opt-out consent laws, evaluation of alternative strategies to increase donor intentions are required.”