Change in culture a key to organ donations

There must be a change in the culture around organ donation if Scotland is to move to an opt-out system, a Holyrood committee has been told.

MSPS heard evidence from experts yesterday as they consider legislation that would mean a person’s consent for donating is presumed unless they have stated otherwise.

Individuals for now must opt in to the organ donor register.

If passed, the Human Tissue (Authorisation) (Scotland) Bill would follow legislation introduced in Wales in 2015, which allows parts of an adult’s body to be used in transplants in the absence of express permission.

There has been debate over how much say a family will have in choosing whether or not to allow their relative’s organs to be donated.