Kidney Matters - Issue 3, Autumn 2018

From the Front Line
Organ Donation –
the right thing to do
….but not the only thing to do
By Fiona Loud, Kidney Care UK Policy Director
In October 2017, the Prime Minister announced at the
Conservative Party Conference that the Government were
looking at changing the law on organ donation in England,
and that they planned to hold a consultation. 17,000
people took part in that consultation. On 5th August 2018,
the government announced that it intends to take the
‘presumed consent bill’ forward, with an aim for it to become
law by spring 2020. The bill, introduced by Geoffrey
Robinson MP, has already passed its second reading and
will be going to committee and then to the House of Lords
from this autumn.
While presumed consent is, we believe, the right thing to do,
it is not the only thing to do. It must, as in countries where
there are greater levels of organ donation, be accompanied
by a continuous public education programme included
in the education system, and supported by adequate
capacity - surgeons and operating theatres - so that the
extra transplant operations can take place. Transplants are
carried out by a very busy NHS, so we look to government to
ensure there are appropriate resources for both donor and
recipient surgery.
Despite progress in
transplantation, patients
continue to die waiting
for an organ
At Kidney Care UK, we had been campaigning for a
consultation for a long time and welcome the intention to
move to a system where it is presumed that a person wishes
to be a donor unless they have said they don’t. Despite
progress in transplantation, patients continue to die waiting
for an organ. 8 out of 10 of those on the transplant waiting
list are hoping for a kidney. The impact of kidney failure is
stark, with 29,000 people on dialysis, which is emotionally and
physically harmful and very difficult for the rest of the family.
However, “without the organ donor there is no story, no
hope, no transplant” (UNOS). Changing the law does not
change the need for people to talk to their family about
organ donation, as they will still be asked for information
about you and to support your donation. Families will retain
the right to override a donation, but changing the default
to becoming a donor has been shown to increase donation
rates, when accompanied by the right education.
Organ Donation Week 2018 meeting in Parliament, supported by
patients, donors and the Kidney Care UK team
Left to right. Pat Carroll, Nick Palmer, Corinne Swainger, Fiona
Loud, Lauwrance Herbst, Chris Fine, Maddy Warren, Stuart Smith,
Paul Bristow, Jess Harris.
Photograph by Brian Russell
In summary, under the new system you would be a potential
donor unless you say that you don’t want to donate. It
remains your decision, and you can change your choices
on the NHS Organ Donor Register at any time. Whichever
system we have, what remains important is that everyone
makes their decision clear.
www.kidneycareuk.org Issue 3 Autumn 2018 5